And All That Jazz...

Side Post.

I work at Sonny's BBQ. Often, with or as a tip. Customers will leave pamphlets, brochures and sometimes pictures telling me I should worship God, go to church and so on. This happens to me at least once day, more than most of my coworkers Ive noticed. I believe this is because I am gay. Anyone who knows me, knows that it isn't hard to tell.

This does not offend me. I find it encouraging. Instead of judging me, and telling themselves that I am going to hell. They feel that they are leaving me information for guidance. I think this is what God would want. They are doing what they think is right, not turning against what they think is wrong.

Today I received one, and it stuck with me. It had the usual information for the Church, the address, the Pastors name, the mission statement. It wasn't until I turned it over on the back, that I decided to keep it. The Back said the following:

You can Know That You Are For Sure Going To Heaven

First, realize God Loves You...
John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Second, realize that everyone is a sinner...
Romans 3:23 - "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

Third, realize sin has a price that must be paid...
Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Fourth, realize that Jesus Christ died to pay your price...
Romans 5:8 - "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Finally, pray. Ask Jesus Christ to be your Saviour, and claim His promise of eternal life...
Romans 10:13 - "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

All of these verses touched me in a very special way. No matter what people say about me, no matter how I feel about other people. Only God can judge me. I am the only one who can make, or condemn myself. I am the one who will get me to heaven. I am the one who will keep my relationship with God. I am the one I need to be worried about. :)

More Of Numbers Tomorrow...

Kale

The Oldest Trick In The Book, Literally...

Day Twenty One: Numbers 1:1 - 5:31

I have decided to continue with Numbers and not skip ahead to the New Testament yet. I am going to try to read it from cover to cover.

So far, I am enjoying Numbers much more than I did Leviticus. Not that Leviticus was bad, but it was extremely hard for someone like me (having the attention span of a gnat) to follow along with it. Numbers, in the first portion alone had already become an ongoing storyline.

Here We Go...

Two For One
(Recap)
Although Joseph was only one of twelve brothers who formed the tribes if Israel, His father Israel, originally named Jacob, had adopted Josephs two sons, Ephriam and Manasseh as his own. (I am not sure, but I want to say it was somewhere around Genesis 48:5-6? Maybe?)
Thus Joseph got a double share of the family inheritance, meaning there are really thirteen tribes of Israel.

I am not sure why exactly, but the tribe of Levi was always treated separately. They were not counted as Israelites, even though they were Israelites. I understand that they had a special role in worship. The Census (from what I gathered, please let me know otherwise!), was mainly to prepare a roster for military purposes. The Tribe of Levi was excluded from the Census. So...I guess, As care tackers of Gods tabernacle, The Levites for ineligible for the draft...? Please help me out.

The Arrangement Of Tribal Camps

The Israelites did not walk or wonder around like an undisciplined mob of people. Each tribe had an assigned place to set up camp. At the center of their camp was the tent of meeting (The Tabernacle). I believe God wanted that to be a visual reminder of what should be the center of their lives, every time they pitched their tents.

The Test For Unfaithfulness

This, for some reason, was my favorite part. There was an old trick used to test for unfaithful wives. When a man had become jealous, or suspected his wife of cheating. He would take her to the priest. The priest would tell her, in a nutshell. That he was going to give her a drink of water. If she was Innocent and had not dishonored her husband. The water would do nothing. She would be fine. However, if she had cheated or been unfaithful. The water would make her ill, her abdomen would swell, and her thighs would waste away. Of course, upon hearing this, The women would confess.

Its funny to me how our government often uses these types of tricks against criminals today. A lot of times of Police Investigation shows they will use tricks to win confessions, and they always think they are smart. Its funny how the writers probably don't even realize that tricks and tests have been used since the beginning of time. :)

Loving Numbers,

Kale

Another Ending....

Day Twenty: Leviticus 25:1 - 27:39

My Last Leviticus Post!!!

I am so proud of myself for finishing Leviticus! No kidding, I was getting very discouraged by it.

Like every book in the Bible so far, Leviticus had a happy ending. Even though I was easily distracted, I really enjoyed the ending.

In the end of course, its all about God. When God is done giving Moses the laws, he then tells Moses all the things he will do in return for their obedience of those laws. I love how at the end of every book, it always reminds you that God is great, and that he loves each and every one of us.

At the end of Leviticus, God talks about his rewards for the Israelites. He says several time that as long as they keep up there end of the Bargain, he would keep up his end. Meaning: As long as we don't sin, and obey the laws, he will give them great crops, and endless amounts of Animals.

This was my favorite verse in Leviticus. "I will grant you peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country". 26:6

It shows us how much God means what he says. In today's society, people are sinning, with no regret. Some people are conniving and scheming. Perhaps this explains extreme hotness? Perhaps this explains earthquakes and tsunamis? Perhaps this explains a random oil leak?

Definitely makes you think! :)

Onto something else...

I was talking with Shanon the other night about a pendant I received from a dear friend a few years ago when I was in theater. My friend told me that it would bring me good luck always, especially if worn on stage. On the front pendant, it show St. Genesius of Rome. on the backside it read, "Pray For Us". Shanon told me that the pendant had nothing to do with Christianity and God. I did my research, and have proved him wrong.

St. Genesius was an actor. He was supposed to be in a play that was making fun of Christian Baptism. During it, he says he saw Angels and heard Gods voice, and changed his ways. He was killed for his actions.
At the start of the play Genesius lay down on the stage as if sick. Two other actors asked what ailed him. Genesius said he felt a great weight that he wanted removed. Hence, two other actors, dressed as a priest and exorcist, were called in. They asked what the protagonist wanted. He replied, "A baptism." At which point he said, he saw a vision of angels bearing a book with all his sins inscribed. The actor portraying the priest asked him: "My child, why did you send for me?"
At this point, Genesius claimed to actually see angels and asked to be baptized himself onstage. Enraged, Diocletian had him turned over to Plautia, prefect of the praetorium, who tortured him in an effort to force him to sacrifice to the pagan gods. When Genesius persisted in his faith, he was beheaded.

He is known as the patron saint of actors, comedians, clowns, dancers, theatrical performers, musicians, attorneys, barristers, lawyers, printers and stenographers, prostitutes, and is invoked against epilepsy.

This makes me extremely happy. No wonder my pendant has brought me such good luck!

Kale

Breakfast At Tiffanys...

This is another Side Post.

Right Now I am watching my all time favorite movie, "Breakfast At Tiffany's".

I am not sure why at all, but this movie has always held an extremely special place in my heart. Why? Its not very spiritual. Its not sad. Its not funny.

I think because, I can relate to it. I think I in a way, am a male version of Holly Golightly. Not just because she is played by Audrey Hepburn (my all time favorite Actress), But because of her personality and personal struggles, and of course the things that make her happy.

So what does this movie have to do with my relationship with God? This movie doesn't mention God, or religion, or the Bible.

Holly Golightly was a extremely misunderstood socialite in New York City. She had escaped her previous life as Lulamae Barns and decided to live her life for herself. She had several love interests and was very into the party scene.

I on the other hand have always had a longing to escape from my life, I would love to be a high class New York socialite, and have never been too much of a hard partier. I think its her personality and persona that reminds me of myself.

I think God gives us things to hold on to. I think he gives each person their own things that they need to make their souls healthy. Some things do not have an everyday purpose, some things are just very good for your soul. I feel as though God sent this movie to me as a way for me to be confident, and have someone to relate too when I feel alone. I think if we all look hard enough, there are tones of small things, like this movie for me, that God gives us to makes getting up allot easier, and going down allot harder. God gives us everything.

I love those stories where someone is looking for happiness, and in the end they always find it in their own back yard. Kinda like that one story where the wolf huffed and puffed at the beanstalk, until the girl let down her really long hair, and she was riding in a pumpkin that had vine wheels with seven short men on a yellow brick road, and then there was that other thing?

I can speak from personal experience now. I have found happiness, in myself and where I am in life. Although, there is always room for improvement. I love who I am, and what I represent. I love where my life is going. I also know that God loves me, just as he loved Holly Golightly. Perhaps that was why she was always so unhappy underneath it all. Maybe she wasn't aware of Gods love for her.

(Yes, I am aware that Holly Golightly was a fictional character, just trying to get my point across).

Isn't Audrey Hepburn Beautiful?

Kale

Levit...Zzz...icus!

Day Nineteen: 19:1 - 24:23

Only One More Post And Leviticus Is Done!!!! :)

Thank Goodness that I am close to the end of Leviticus. I had begun to think I was growing a little too bored with this project. I believe that I may skip Numbers for now, and maybe move ahead to The New Testament, and then come back to Numbers. Ill have to think about it though. I kinda like the Idea of reading it cover to cover, and I'm kinda OCD, so if I skip Numbers I may have some sort of dream where the Statue of Liberty is reciting verses from Numbers while she squirts me with Ketchup, and that would be a disaster.

Again, Leviticus mostly repeats itself, Everything I am reading now, I have already blogged about at one point or another. I had no idea God told Moses so much. Its interesting to me how God picks who he blesses. Who was Moses? Moses was a random kid stuck in a basket, and now he is the leader of the Israelites, and the only connection they have with God.

God is great, God is love, God is able, and he wont fail. A friend of mine asked me the other day via facebook message, "Like what do you actually feel about God?"

I began to type...and then stopped, and then began to type again, and then stopped. After about ten minutes of this I realized that I didn't exactly have an answer. I wasn't sure how I actually felt about God.

I feel that God is real, and that he loves me, and that his one big purpose is Love. But that is all stuff that I know. How do I feel about God? What do I think of God? When replying the message I simply glazed over answering the question. I wasn't exactly sure what to put. How do I feel about God?

Just one more portion of Leviticus and I'm done!

Kale

On The Soap Box...

Day Eighteen: Leviticus 16:1 - 18:30

I know I missed a few posts due to labor day, very sorry. Back on Track

Detestable - arousing or meriting intense dislike.

I think this is where my blog gets controversial. Very sorry.

As I have mentioned before, Leviticus is all about laws. Laws of sacrificing, Laws of Welfare, and The last two chapters I read were laws all about sex.

"Unlawful Sexual Relations"

As most of you know, I am an openly gay man. I do not hide it. I do not feel like God wants me to hide it. That doesn't mean he loves it.

The Laws of sex are all about Incest.
Do not have sex with your sister,
Do not have sex with your mother,
Do not have sex with your aunt,
Do not have sex with your fathers wife,
Do not have sex with your sons wife,
oh....and don't have sex with another man either...its detestable.

My whole life I have been told how The Bible is completely against Homosexuality, and that by being gay and open I was going to hell. I do not feel this way.

I do not by any means feel that Homosexuality is what God intended. But I do not think he sits around, damning people to hell for being themselves.

Edgar Allen Poe is known as a brilliant poet. Not for marrying his 13 year old niece.

Franklin Roosevelt also was married to Eleanor, his 4th cousin.

Johan Sebastian Bach, married his second cousin on his fathers side.

Thomas Jefferson married his 3rd cousin Martha.

Albert Einstein married his second cousin Elsa.

Jerry Lee Lewis, a great songwriter married his 1st cousin Myra, she was 13 years old.

I think people worry too much about what is "wrong", and don't focus enough on what is "right".

Out of every law mentioned in this chapter. Homosexuality consumed one verse. Incest consumed 17 verses. Yet....in 1/2 of the USA it is legal to marry your 1st cousin. In the other 1/2 it is legal to marry your second cousin.

I think God loves me. I think God wants me in heaven. I think God loves, that I can be me. I think God loves that I can look people in the face and say..."This is me, this is who I am."

I think god loves me...For me!

Tomorrow....
Kale

The Sun'll Come Out....Tomorrow...

This is another side post from my journey.

All my life I have felt as though I was meant to be on stage. Someone asked me the other day if I felt that Gods plan for me was theater. This made me think quite a bit. This is what I came up with...

I think God gave me the ability to make people laugh. My mom, my sister Holly, and my cousin Rachel are probably the people who tell me the most often, "I just need to talk to you". Sometimes I anger myself at how little seriousness I carry in most situations. Even when I am not meaning to make jokes, or make someone laugh. Even if I honestly am trying to comfort them, they always end up laughing. At first I retrace my words, and sure enough. I through a Joke in there, or made a funny face, or told a funny story, and said it all in a funny accent. I think that is God working his magic on me. I think the he always helps me out to make someone laugh (especially when they need it) even when I don't realize it. Even If I don't realize what I am saying or doing until afterwards.

...and this makes complete sense to me. In just about every show I've ever done, I have always been the comic relief. Even though it is frustrating always playing "the funny one", I have grown to love it. Its kind of comforting to me. Sometimes I feel like I'm living out the show "I Love Lucy". Lucy was the focus of her world, yet she was the comic relief. Not saying that I could ever hold a candle to Lucille Ball, but I think God also worked this same magic on her.

Over the past few weeks, I have really grown to believe that we all have some sort of calling from God. Whether its the ability to make someone laugh, or the ability to be a good listener, or the ability to give great advice. Over the past few weeks, I have seen all these abilities. Each one in a completely different person. The shows that Gods plan always works. Gods plan is fool-proof. It cannot be undone. :)

Thanks For Listening to Me Babble...

Kale

P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney...

Day Seventeen: Leviticus 11:1 - 15:33

I know I am way behind. This weekend being labor day weekend, my work schedule has been hectic this week. Hopefully after tomorrow I will be back on track. :)

I have to be honest. When reading Leviticus so far I feel like Dory from Finding Nemo. If there is something around me to distract me, it WILL distract me. Of course my attention span has never been anything to brag about. I find it extremely hard to stay engaged in Leviticus. This makes me sad! I have had such a good experience reading the Bible so far. No matter how long it takes me to read Leviticus, I will not give up!

I think that sense I am having a hard time with this one. I may shorten the portions a tad bit. Maybe just reading two to three chapters a day. That way I wont get bored, and I can focus better on the laws, and points the laws are trying to make. I only have about ten chapters of Leviticus left. So, my goal is to be done by the end of next week. Most Definitely.

So...Here We Go...

Clean and Unclean Food

This section was mostly talking about what animals the Israelites could and could not eat. Anything that could eat the cud and had a split hoof, could be eaten. They had to have both of these things. If an animal ate the cud but did not have a split hoof. They were considered unclean. If the animal had a split hoof and did not eat the cud, it was considered unclean.

( just keep swimming....just keep swimming...)

They were to "detest" the following birds:

The Eagle
The Vulture
The Red Kite
The Black Kite
The Raven
The Horned Owl
The Screech Owl
The Gull
The Hawk
The Little Owl
The Cormorant
The Great Owl
The White Owl
The Desert Owl
The Osprey
The Stork
The Heron
The Hoopoe. and
The Bat

Other than that. Eat it!

These were the most basic laws. The Bible got really detailed about what not to eat, and what would be considered clean and unclean. (Insects, lizards, seafood, etc.)

Purification after Childbirth

These laws were very strict ( ya know I speak whale...)

If a woman gave birth to a son, she was not considered clean until the seventh day after his birth, On the eighth day the son was to be circumcised and the woman was to wait thirty three days to be purified from her bleeding.

If it were a girl she gave birth too, she was not purified from bleeding until sixty six days after the birth.

Why all these rules? I guess and Germs are to Surgeons, "Unlceanness" is to Leviticus.
I guess if people didn't know any better, then the only way to make sure things got done properly was for God to makes laws for everything.

The were also many laws mentioned about ( i shall call him squishy and he shall be mine, and he shall be my squishy) Infectious Skin Diseases, Mildew, The Discharging of Semen From a Male.

There were so many laws and details I couldn't possibly began to describe them here. ( please excuse him, hes lost his son, fabio)

I hope this post did not bore anyone too much ( yes, im a natural blue) . I promise the next one will rock!

"I suffer from short-term memory loss"
Kale