Gentle People,
If anyone took the time to read the sermon, the quote that I think should be high lighted is:
No Man is an island, entire of itself;
Every Man is a piece of the continent,
a part of the main.
and dredging the pits of my memory;
I have loved me a man like my mama did,
I have loved me a man.
Tall and tender his hand like my daddy's were,
And a mind that understands.
A somewhat disjointed (does that mean 'no smoke') begining for a post that was to be about faith or the lack of it. The line; I have loved me a man, while thinking of my long passed on Buddy, caused me to realize that I have been 'in love' with a cadaver for thirty years. Morbid ? Damned right. His memory has been with me through good times and bad, often I'd not listen for a very long time. But, as the seasons pass, I know he'll return.
When he died, well bluntly committed suicide, he did so with a book in his hands. It was open at Romans 1, 24
==========================================================Therefore God gave them over in their sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator - who is forever praised, Amen.
Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their woman exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with woman and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil, they disobey their parents; they are senseless , faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
==========================================================
My Buddy has recently come out to his parents, and they being of a religious bent, spat the proverbial dummy. My mate sought the comfort of his friends and as I was "too busy" to hear his call, I feel was found lacking. He went around for a few days asking 'who would come to his funeral'
The rest as they say is history. It's actually a very big part of my history. From that day on, I could not accept that in the "early '70's" these teachings could take away a most beautiful and talented man. At just 21 years of age his short life was over. For a long time, so was mine.
I cannot, I will not follow any scripture that follows a doctrine such as that as detailed in Romans. I have over the years melded my own faith. An amalgam of Judaism, Shinto and Buddhism. In taking a little from each, I can learn the way we should all live (in a perfect world) the respect of ancestors and the respect of nature, and a belief, not so much as an after life, but in a reincarnate existence. Also the yin and yang, the karma and a balance that was missing before.
I have had all this in my heart and brain for so very long, and I hope that y'all will forgive me for sharing my shame on this thread. Oh, and for the curious, clowns do cry.
Sincerely,
Kevin
aka Grey Beard
The food talk is driving me insane! Now I want some nice buttery grits loaded with scrambled eggs, salt, bacon, and pepper.
