9/11 Bulletin

I’ve been cleaning my room and coming across various treasures of the past. That’s what’s so fun about cleaning; you find things that bring back memories.

Well I found my old cofc’s bulletin from the first Sunday after 9/11. I find this odd because just recently I was thinking, “I don’t remember what happened at church right after 9/11. I remember watching Larry King Live, but not church.”

I’ve found it. Here’s the message from inside-

“This week our faith was tested. Hate attacked us and devastated our country. There has been much talk about prayer from our leaders and the media (an open door). Our country is grieving. As we plead with God to grant some good to come from this tragedy, we are mindful of our leaders, the families who have lost loved ones, the rescue workers, the military, those who are investigating this incident and U.S. citizens of all heritages. The impact of this will be great, let us pray it is to the glory of our God.”

Not bad for a Church of Christ, but there are some things that are questionable.

There’s also an announcement about a gospel meeting, a potluck, and an announcement about two people who have decided to “re-dedicate their lives to Christ.”

God, this brings back memories.

I love our Holy Father

I love being able to call him that, too. I love being in communion with him.

The more as I watch and observe him during his visit to these United States, the more I remember that I love him. He is such a wonderful leader! He is an excellent Pope!

Just wanted to reiterate. By the way, on Monday I’m going to wear a Catholic t-shirt to school and it will be so lulzy. Maybe I’ll take a picture of me wearing it and post it.

One last post to this family member

I don’t believe in the Bible, so telling me to read a specific passage and live my life by it is worthless. Of course, I believe that many of the words ascribed to Jesus are indeed His and they are very inspiring, but this is besides the point. It is impossible to legalize Jesus.

Your mother is crazy, but I still love her. It’s just a shame that I can’t trust her anymore than I can you.

And yes, please leave me alone; just let me be. The time to have left me alone was years ago; but don’t you think for a second that our “relationship” was severed by me. I met you entirely halfway.

And don’t think that it’s just you that I detest. I can’t stand any member of my “family.” No one has ever truly been there for me; they all love themselves more than anything or anyone else. I have been thinking about it for years now and oddly enough, I feel that you are the only one who would give a damn. Alex hates me, and quite frankly, I hate him just as much. I don’t understand why he doesn’t go live in Michigan. My mother only cares about herself and she is one of the most ignorant people that I have ever had the displeasure of meeting. Don’t think for a second that I’m only displeased with you.

Unfortunately your version of “love” is twisted and wholly conditional. Sending a Christmas present when I clearly wanted nothing to do with you is not a way to build bridges. But you are just as self obsessed as all the rest of them. You seem to think that I will love you simply because you’ve done things for me, and pointing to Niagara Falls as your example. You seem to think that love comes from you as a being, instead of what real, unconditional, selfless love actually is.

Shame that you don’t know what love is. I actually enjoyed playing Rummy with you and your mother and Leah and I miss it dearly. This time spent playing Rummy means more to me, because it is natural as opposed to Niagara Falls. There was more love at the Rummy table than almost anywhere else, and yet you don’t even remember it.

It’s a shame that you think that you are fooling anyone. I wish you the best of lives and I thank you for aiding me on my journey.

The Parable of the Moneylender

is not in Matt 18. It’s in Luke 7. By the way, everyone ignore this post except the person for whom it is meant, and they know who they are.

One of the things that needs to be realized is that I am in no position to grant forgiveness; there was no wrong against me, other than the fact that you’re more obsessed with your own hedonism. If there needs to be any forgiveness, it will not be coming from me.

Mortal sin is a state of being that can only be forgiven once the sin is ended. Unfortunately, simply asking for forgiveness while still sinning renders forgveness useless and is childish and immature. Perhaps ending the sin might expedite forgiveness; perhaps not. It’s not really mine to give. All I know is that I am at peace with myself; calling, leaving comments, guilt tripping other family members to talk to me, gossiping- obviously none of this is working. I’ve moved on with my life; why can’t you?

So, you know where I stand. Of course, you love yourself more than you love anyone else so I don’t expect you to change at all. You don’t even know what love is, I think.

Part of growing up is realizing that actions have consequences, so grow up already. It’s time to stop acting like a teenager thinking that you can have everything you want, because you can’t. Grow up. You’ve made your bed, now lie in it.