Random Thoughts About Anything, About Nothing

I heard a long time ago, and it recently was reiterated, that if you want to be a writer you need to practice your craft every day. Well, believe it or not, I aspire to be a writer; so in pursuit of that dream I am constantly thinking about stuff to write. Sometimes an idea gets stuck in my head and goes nowhere and serves no purpose except to give me a headache or kill off another brain cell which, truthfully, I can't afford to lose at my age. So this post is more for the purposes of eliminating the excess leftover junk in my brain so I can move on.....maybe some of it will be worth reading.....or not.

Success
I recently heard an author speak on his newest book. He was pleasently self-deprecating, almost comedic. It was endearing and made him human. Then I thought: It's easy to be self-deprecating when you're successful. Being self-deprecating when you are not successful may just be the sad, sad truth.

Money
My very best friend and I often have conversations about money..it's place, it's purpose, the corruption often tied with it, and the impossibility of living without it. These conversations are stimulating to me, perhaps because we come from two ends of the slide rule in terms of financial stability and yet have simular views on the need and usage of the green stuff.
It seems to me that anytime Jesus was around a rich person he was telling them to go sell their stuff and give the money to the poor and walk with him. He also pointed out the difference between giving out of our excess and out of our need. I don't think he was opposed to money. I think he was getting at a heart attachment, an attitude. He himself said that where our treasure is, that is where we would find our heart.
I have dear friends who believe that if they are not rolling in the dough they somehow are not living it right as far as Jesus is concerned. After all doesn't the abundant life involve a healthy checking account? I get confused with this thinking because everywhere I see Jesus himself talking about money, it's in terms of giving it away not accquiring it.
I often think if I had alot of money, I wouldn't have alot of money because I would give it all away. I think this is a noble and good thought and it is easy to say when you don't have alot of money. If I actually had alot of money would I really be that generous? I like to think I would be, but that won't be known until I cross the bridge of wealth.....so far I haven't truly been tested in that area.
I stick with the heart attachment thing. Not a sin to be rich or poor, may be a sin to be so money driven or anything else driven that one has no place for God in their life. This is what I think Jesus was trying to teach. Lastly, I don't think Jesus would have made a very good accountant.

Jesus and Politics
I know people who actually believe that if Jesus were here today and a part of the American voting public, he would be Republican right down the line. Putting "Jesus" and the "American voting public" in the same sentence makes me a touch uncomfortable; add the word Republican and I start to shake and I am a Republican.
I am not sure Jesus would be affiliated with any political party. If I were Jesus, I would have an aversion to politics anyway.....wasn't it really politics that got him crucified? I don't think Jesus would be concerned with any party agenda either. If he did vote for anything, he would probably write in on the ballot everything he voted for. I think this because he knows everything and he knows we don't know what we need. He would write in the right things that need to be voted for because he knows exactly what we need.
This would disappoint many on the righteous right and he would probably be labeled a flaming liberal.

Christianity vs. Spirituality
I am not very good at following rules. I try to follow but I either misread or misunderstand them and eventually fall short. Alot of people of faith that I know seem to see their testimony wrapped up in how well they follow all the rules. Christianity is a series of codes and ethics and as long as they are adhered to, they are right with God and Jesus loves them. The problem I have with that is I don't think following any rule is what makes us righteous before God...I am pretty sure that being righteous centers on Jesus in us....period. The old saying, "Rules were made to be broken", is true. All rules do is point out the impossibility of following them to the letter.
Sometimes I think when the world sees Christianity they see a series of rules. I am sure what they need to see is Jesus. Being spiritual to me means showing the face of Jesus to the world, not proving I can follow rules. People need Jesus, not another list of "do's" and "don't's".
My sister went to a christian concert and told me the lead guy made a statement something like this: "The world doesn't mind when a christian sins, the world minds when a christian sins but doesn't think he does." Holier than thou and self-righteousness seem to get caught up alot in christianity, therefore; I would rather just be human, honest with my shortcomings, and testify that Jesus, for all my faults, still likes me and that he loves the rest of the world just the same. To me, this is showing the world the face of Jesus.

Thanks for letting me clear out the cobwebs in the recesses of my mind. Now there is room for more clutter.....