"Dinosaurus redux"

I just wrote this below in response to some comments on my "Dinosaur" post.

I really don't expect everyone to like me or agree with me and I also absolutely know that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and some peoples' opinions of me are that they disapprove. That's fine because there's a bunch of things that other people do that I do not approve of. I seek only God's approval and only I know if I am in a state of grace or not. No one else can ever know that.

To me, we are all sinners and can never be anything but sinners and it is only by God's grace that we can enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Even trying to do good and be good, is useless because, as Calvin said, all of our thoughts and actions are tainted by ego and vanity. Maybe God will call the worst sinners to be citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.

The only reason that I try to be good and do good is because I want to be a good citizen in THIS world. Whether or not I ever become a citizen of the next world is not up to me but to God.

I also never talk about my private life so no one knows what I do in the privacy of my own home but I also would never do anything that I am ashamed of in the eyes of God.

I got some more emails about my "dinosaur" post.

Email one: I only started reading your blog before Christmas and I enjoyed it until I read your post about gays. I'm a Conservative Christian but I don't condemn people but I also wonder why you have to talk about this stuff. Most of us just don't want to know about your private life. We are all sinners but I don't flaunt my sins.

Fair enough. Actually, in real life, I never talk about "this stuff" for exactly the reason you say - I don't want to hear about other peoples' private lives and I don't like talking about mine. I have never talked about this to any of my neighbors. As far as they know, we're the crusty old batchelors who live down the road who like to hunt, fish and farm and are business partners in an RV park and rental properties. We are also have loads of books and we lend them books that they have not read yet. They also love being invited to dinner because there are two good cooks in our house and we love entertaining people at home. They also know that they can rely on us completely to take care of their farms and livestock when they go away.

I don't want to talk about "this stuff" on my blog either but the blogosphere is not the real world and lots of things get discussed here that are not talked about in real life. I first raised the subject when I wrote a post about why I opposed "gay rights." In the interests of full disclosure, I had to include some personal details.

I also never asked for these kids to email me. I got a few comments that were a bit self-righteous and at least one person was trying to provoke an argument but I'm not an argumentative person. And self-righteousness and anger don't work. I could have gotten really self-righteous and angry and in fact I was angry when I got the email from the girl who was suicidal. We're talking about suicide here not some theological niceties.

Many years ago a friend of my mother's asked her to ask me to talk to her son. He was very depressed because he was homosexual and had even talked about killing himself. I agreed to talk to him but I was much more selfish in those days and I kept putting it off because it was an unpleasant task. He killed himself before I could talk to him.

Oh, I could have gotten pretty self-righteous and angry but, as I say, that does not work. None of us are perfect so how can I get all huffy because someone does not see things my way?

Email two: I got this email from Patty, the Redneck Granny (This and That and Frog Hair) after I posted my "Dinosaur" thingy. I asked Patty if I could post her email and my response and she agreed.

Now, I don't know if you know Patty. I read Patty's blog every day because I believe laughter is the best medicine and Patty posts the best jokes (okay, some of them are a bit rude but I've got a filthy sense of humor and I love dirty jokes.) But that's not the only reason. It's because I've gotten to know this wonderful redneck granny who once was a cop and has had as rough a ride in life as I have. We've moaned about our kids to each other and bitched about other stuff. Patty has a heart as big as the great plains of this wonderful land from sea to shining sea.

Patty wrote:

I hope this isn't preachy it is not meant to be. I just want your views. Geez there are emails then there are Patty's books lol.

Strange I feel like I have known you forever. Yet we have not met. Your post made me think. I was thinking about all the friends that I have had down through the years that were gay. I had a lot of wonderful memories. On my 18th birthday I had a Party in OKC at the Brass Rail (a very gay bar) The long and short is most of the guys passed away due to AIDS. This was before we knew that much about it. However many of them lived a double life and I got to be the girl that went home to meet the folks. It was a strange time in my life. I understand the life style and agree it is immoral generally.

I guess now that I am older what I dislike mostly is the militant Gays. I don't like neked people parading down the main street screaming. Not because they are gay but because they are neked and screaming. If they want me to dialog with them then don't scream at me I am not deaf ya know (not yet anyway.)

All of that being said I understand what you are saying about the Bible. Yes I agree that some was written to keep people in bondage so to speak. The diet of the old testament is a healthy one and there are some things included that are not good for us even today. That is why you have to have Strongs concordance handy.

Jesus is God and also our arbitrator to God. Our relationship with God is also a personal one. As a married couple. Now as I was reading what you wrote on divorce. I believe that this was two fold. The literal meaning and then that spiritual meaning. Let no man put asunder what God has joined together. Jesus is our bridegroom (Agreed?) When you or I (not literally) cause another to break away from the bridegroom then we cause a divorce between God and another. Therefore we will pay a price.

I do not profess to be a Christian. First I am a believer. My relationship with God is mine and mine alone. I have learned as with my earthly marriage that I can't allow others to come between me and my groom.

Now as a parent you and I know that we love our children. I believe that the "Christians" that would turn their backs on their child for any reason has never been a parent. (Therefore never like the God we are to be like.)

A parent would die for that child.{see a likeness there} No matter what. You are always involved with your kids. The hardest thing is letting them grow. At what time did Christ turn his back on us? I have done many things he probably should have but he didn't. However Paul also wrote to abstain instead of sin. That is in all areas. (I believe) I love food and I have to tell myself hey wait a minute you don't need that. I very often try to watch what I say because God never changes and he did promise he would create the fruit of our lips.

I can't imagine what young people go through being Gay. Then again I can not imagine what its like to walk through the projects in the inner city to go to school. I can't imagine the fear of a parent turning their back on you. I know that should never happen when Jesus is waiting there to help. He never fails.

You know I have had a diverse life and it will continue until I go home. I just hope its to the happy hunting grounds and not some uppity condo.

I must thank you for making me think on these many things. I realize that I seem like a pagan of sorts with rude crude and vulgar jokes. However once in a while I slip one in there on an unsuspecting audience. hehehehe

My heart goes out to those kids. I know the road is rocky. Times can be dark. But remind them Jesus is there. And take it from me there are times that you really know it. You can also send them to me for granny advice. I can tell them don't tat your body unless you want you granny to know. Purple hair is not acceptable at granny's dinner table.

Redneck Granny Rides Again

Patty

Right now I don't know what to say. I thought that I was going to respond to Patty's email and make some wise-cracks and witty comments which is why I asked her if I could post her email.....but right now, after reading it again, I've got nothing to add except: thank God that I live in the USA and have gotten to meet such wonderful freedom loving people who think for themselves and don't care what others think of them. It just makes me realize why God is on the side of the USA. It is the home of the brave and the land of the free. We are not slaves to any other human beings or even to ideas, isms, ideologies, theologies or any other thing in this world. America was founded by people who wanted to relate to God in their own way not the way some official church told them. Only Americans understand what true freedom is. Thanks, Patty and I hope you go to the happy hunting grounds not an "uppity condo."