"laestadian, apostolic, gay, lgbtq, ex-oalc, ex-llc, llc, oalc, bunner" LEARNING TO LIVE FREE: Introducing Real Live Preacher

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Introducing Real Live Preacher

There is a blogger I've enjoyed reading for some time. His voice resonates with me, and I hope some of you will enjoy reading him as well. This blogger goes by the name of Real Live Preacher. Despite the funny name, he is sincere and thoughtful and challenging in a wonderful way. He is also a Christian.

I've pulled a few excerpts I thought are especially good from his blog. First is his journey of faith:
I looked in the restroom mirror and said, “I do not believe in God.” I knew this was the truth and felt the need to say it out loud. I was on the other side now. I was an unbeliever. It was like waking up in Tokyo and noticing to your great surprise that you've become Japanese. You weren't raised in Japan, and you have no idea how to use chopsticks. What the hell are you gonna do with yourself?
You can read about his journey of faith in parts one, two, three, and four at his blog.

The next excerpt details his struggle with depression.
This is why there are no heroes with depression. On the day you snap, you are just a guy who snapped. You get no credit for the weeks or months or years that you were being heroic. No one knew that you were holding all that inside. Sorry buddy, there are no bonus points for being a hero. When you snap and start yelling at your kids for no good reason, you are just a guy who yells at his kids for no good reason.
You can read more about his thoughts on depression in his archives.

The last excerpt is on what RLP thinks of fundamentalism: it hurts.
Never confuse fundamentalism with a particular set of beliefs. Fundamentalism is a methodology. It is a way of relating to people. There are fundamentalist Christians, fundamentalist Muslims, and don't forget the politically correct zealots. You will meet fundamentalists in every walk of life.

9 comments:

  1. Thanks for that link. I liked this bit:
    Here are some signs of spiritual enlightenment:
    The embracing of paradox.
    The love of mystery in the presence of unanswered questions.
    The acceptance of your small place in reality.
    The willingness to engage in spiritual exercises without knowing how they will work or even what it would mean for them to work.
    The increase of the love, grace, forgiveness, and patience visible in your life.

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  2. And this one:

    "God, I don’t have great faith, but I can be faithful. My belief in you may be seasonal, but my faithfulness will not. I will follow in the way of Christ. I will act as though my life and the lives of others matter. I will love. I have no greater gift to offer than my life. Take it."

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  3. Ilmarinen,

    I enjoyed the piece on fundamentalism and have some definitional concerns with the author but they are technical and probably distinctions without major difference. He briefly alludes to it but I would go further in my coverage. Originally, fundamentalism as a word got its start in the area of biblical belief associated with literalism and the word has now been primarily used to describe any position which to a conservative would be accurately called center right. Our media uses it to “neanderthalize” a large voting block. For example, in the eyes of the NYT, radical Islamists and far right Christians share the same box. Referring to the concept as a method or process makes the terminology generic enough to include other radical groups as well. How about fundamentalist environmentalists, or fundamentalist socialists, or fundamentalist Marxists, or fundamentalist Freudians?? Nice job on the topic.

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  4. Albert Einstein11/22/2006 07:45:00 PM

    How can cosmic religious feeling be communicated from one person to another, if it can give rise to no definite notion of a God and no theology? In my view, it is the most important function of art and science to awaken this feeling and keep it alive in those who are receptive to it.

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  5. Why do you dwell on such silly things in life? Live a good life and be content. If I sit there and read this kind of stuff, it just makes me question and wonder and your mind goes wild.

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  6. Many Trails Home11/27/2006 10:18:00 AM

    Hey Lola, living a good life and contentment (or I would say "serenity") are about as worthy life goals as I could possibly come up with. But some of us are a tad antsy and love to question and wonder, otherwise we get bored (the flip side of contentment). God gave me my mind and I like to work it, as I think he expects me to do, and I ask him to guide my thought as well as my actions. Frankly, my mind never goes "wild." MTH

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  7. Thought I would pass along an interesting challenge.
    (RED)EMPTION

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  8. Ilmarinen,

    I finally had time to check out this website.. I really like this guy, even though he throws in the occasional "bad word" lol. But I think he would be a nice person to know. He is honest. He is open to mystery. He looks beyond labels. I'm going to check in on him from time to time! Thanks!

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