Religious Vs. Spiritual

Greetings what few readers may come across this page!

It has been quite some time since i've made an actual post, i know, but there is a perfectly logical reasoning behind that which i will get to later. Anyways, i am feeling particulary compelled to talk about God today.

This morning, when i got out of the shower, i thought about a certain saying that floats around in christian apologetics, as well as something christians use against other christians. It occured to me in my personal observations that it is honestly ridiculous, and that since blogging usually is your personal beliefs, i felt i would say my peace about it. It is one of the most subtle but burning topics that lies in christian apologetics, and in between several denominations of Christianity and christians in general; being "religious", versus being "spiritual".

First, we have to define both terms. Being religious can be described as going to church, reading the bible, etc. It came up a lot when i attended a baptist church in my eighth and ninth grade years, and although it was unclear to me then, i now see how being religious was overlooked by them as "doing the bare minimum." doing the bare minimum and being religious are two TOTALLY different things. Now, where do i stand with being religious? If you are simply religious with no connection to what you are doing, then you are doing the right things for the wrong reason, which also means you are doing the right things wrong. We as christians should aim to please God, to approach him with love and awe, not simply to do what we are asked in the bible because we "have to".

Now, let's define the word "spiritual." When i think of the word "spiritual" or "spirituality" i think of that love and awe of God that i mentioned earlier. I think of having a deep personal relationship with the holy ghost and of God and how he works in the world. To feel his presence and a deep sense of calm and love that you simply can't explain. To be spiritual is to be in tune and in love with God, a higher power, and omniprescent, omniscient being, and to understand and feel a connection with it. But, there is a problem here as well. Here's my example: You can tell God you love him all you want, but do your outward actions show it? He loves you to no end, far much more than you love him. But you become complacent with that. You accept the fact that you will never amount to his love. You will never even amount to a drop in his overflowing cup of how much he loves you compared to how much you love him. Because you are simply spiritual, and say you love God with no work to back it up, then what are you good for? Your just a talking mouth that is silent to the ears of the world. You praise God on your own, but you never talk about him to others.

Without a doubt, by definiton, being spiritual and being religious are two TOTALLY different things. But, in the christian world, they coexist in the heart of the man who truly loves God.

Here's where my dilemma came in. I used to say that i was "spiritual, but i wasn't religious." I didn't even realize the death wish i was making. I realized this morning when i got out of the shower and thought about this heated topic, that although the baptist who i was acquainted with possibly misinterpreted being religious as "the bare minimum", in reality, being spiritual is the bare minimum. I was taught in the baptist church i attended that all you need is love, -gospel of John (lennon). Now, i do believe that to please God and show that you love him, you have to do mission work, and you have to witness, and you have to spread his love in order to enter his divine kingdom. Whenever people talked about this in baptist church, the baptists would claim "OH NO, ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE, you don't need to work, work is optional, you're a jehovah's witness for claiming you have to actually WORK to get into heaven." Now, don't get me wrong before i go further, i don't want it to seem like all baptists are like that. That was just the status quo attitude at the church i attended.

Although there are definitely a few exceptions for babies and children who never have the oppurtunity to experience God and his awesome, awesome love. They don't have to work because they can't, they never had the chance to. But that's not the point: The point is that I think in order to find your name in the book of life, you have to be both religious, and spiritual.

I said earlier that the man who loves God in his heart with have religiousness and spirituality coexist with him. When i say that, i not only mean they have to be in the same place, but they also naturally will work together. The main point that comes across is, in order to find your salvation, you should not only want to love God and his son Jesus Christ, but also be compelled because of that to share his love, to have others stand with you in his love. And in the same, if you work for him, if you are religious, you should eventually find to come to love him, to truly understand His glory and how holy he is. You should WANT to love him, and if you love him, you should WANT to do his work. If you WANT to do his work, then you should WANT to love him. People don't do what they do for no reason.

We think we don't have to work, that it's optional. Well, for the record, everything is optional, choosing to obey and worship God is not "mandatory". But if you are one of those who chooses to worship God and follow the teaching of Jesus, but you think you don't have to work, think about the Great Commission: Matthew 28: 16-20; "16: then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go; 17: When they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted; 18: Then Jesus came to them and said "all authority in Heaven and Earth has been given to me; 19: Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit, 20: and teaching them to obey everything i have commanded you. And surely i am with you always, to the very end of age."

Now, you'll probably say "sure, i do that, i tell people about Jesus when it comes up in conversation." But that's just it, that isn't enough. You can't just wait for God to come up in a conversation, because in these days religion is a touchy subject, and with denominational feuds and intersecular debates, it is less than likely religion will come up in a conversation unless you take the proactive choice and bring it up when you see fit. When you do mission work and go on mission trips, you are doing the work FOR GOD. People see your work and ask you why do this? It is the perfect oppurtunity to spread God's love. The point of doing work for the lord is a further means that you can use to spread his love, to go about all the nations, and make disciples of their indigenous people! What is your love, without work? If you truly love, you should be compelled and willing to have others bask in that love with you, to stand beside in the light of salvation, in the glory of the father. Jesus was God in the flesh, the messiah, the messenger of salvation. The Great Commission is not simply from Christ, it is from the lips of God himself. You will must follow his will, which is to do this work God asks. If you are still confused on this "work", then you should check out this article of a biblical example about paul from First Corinthians:

http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/1886.htm

God's work is not always necesarilly "labor", but you should without a doubt be willing to labor for the lord God in your love for him. You can't just either just be spiritual, or just be "religious"; If you are truly one of them, the other should naturally come to you, and if it does not, it is not true. You must be both of them to find your salvation, to eat the fruit from the tree of life.

so, with that said, believe in him, love him with all your heart, all you mind, all your soul, all your strength, and spread his love as if it was the last thing you could ever do in your life.

-hunter.

It's Cold Outside

Dear Someone Certain,

Since blogspot has been blocked and you cannot view the blog, i'm sure you recieved my little letter with 2 needed fields. Blogger is the only website with that password though =P

I find that this morning i feel rather comforted or aloof in my thoughts. The donut holes are amayzahn btw, ah my gahhh, mmmmmmmmm, yummmmmm-eeeeeee xDD. I had time to finish that project in the bathroom of the 600 building without Mr. Marks feeling like i was lying (and i didn't have to turn 8:30 into 8:39 with a simple line oh that rhymed OH DOUBLE RHYME), but i think the residue of the marijuana may have induced a contact high, so i'm sure whether or not i was actually writing the facts or about how delicious oatmeal donut holes would be. Ugh. Gawd.

sorry i'm so hyper, i took my medicine this morning but i guess the temperature is messing with my head. In my thoughts, i am very calm and collected with my cool compassion ;P but as i have just reread everything i've typed for comparison, i find my proffessed thoughts very overactive. So i guess now i'm just controlling it. Keeping it low down. Hmmmmm.... In....... Out........ (breathing, not creepy slow rape)

Anyways, if i make it into Governor's school and you don't, you needn't slap me, as i would probably drop out anyways. Or if i had to go to the school on the other side of the state, you know. I assume you probably are thinking that my reason for going shouldn't just be you, and it isn't necesarilly. What i see it as is that if we do in fact end up going to governor's school, and going to the same school (hopefully western), even if i won't necesarilly see you ALL the time, i might get to see you every once in a while, maybe even every day. Other than that, i would actually be near you in the summer. so that PLUS the extra education i would get in flute would be a win win.

On one of the other hands (yes, it's a 3 armed... situation... that would be cool if the situation was paralyzed and became a pentapalegic xD) ANYWAYS on one of the other hands, if i make it and you don't and simply give it up, then i get to spend more time with you during the summer. But since you wouldn't have made it, you would be upset, so either way, it would be bad. Let's just hope that hand is cut off.

But on the other other hand, say you make it and I don't, i'll be upset because I wouldn't get to see you, but happy because you would be getting extra education and experience in your favorite activity, the one you're best at. And it's only six weeks, but six weeks is a long time to go without seeing your best friend =/ i would still come see the final performance no doubt. But still... 6 weeks =P

So it's a strange scenario... but we can only hope for the best, and prepare for the worst.

Random thought: Last night before i called (you know, where my mom picked up and went hezbollah on you) i came up with a new decoration idea for my room; Quotenotes =P (just came up with the title for chique) but yeah, quotes, lyrics, drawings, stuff like that on sticky notes on my wall. i'm probably getting overexcited but i just like the idea. Maybe just song lyrics i like, and then people who i meet or randomly see write down a favorite quote or draw a picture or write a song lyric and then i take it home and put it on my wall. Why i find the idea interesting is actually the most confusing part to me... but who knows =)

So now that i have finished all of the music for my soul to take and most of the lyrics, i just have to writing lyrics and recording, and the cd with all of the music will be yours. I'll probably record my colorblind cover (which not to be arrogant, but is really neat. But, i'm sure Bottom Heaveh and yous is bettuh.)

Random Thought #2: i randomly thought about the bet for God knows why, probably the whole hezbollah thing, and i realize that it is still on, but we have a week before it can technically come to either a continuation of a scenario in which one of us could win and the other lose bringing the winnings of a side to fruition. I would give a random thought #3 on how i would have good faith in winning, but i'd rather keep it a surprise. xD

If any of my contingent strands of nearly tangible information have made any sense or even an inch of sense, whatsoever, i'm glad.

The weather outside fascinates me. In response to your facebook post where i was creeping moments ago, i am ready for fall myself and it feels like it is hear. It feels wonderful outside, so wonderful. I've been imagining these days.

• The cool, calm, collected breath of coriolis face...
• the doldrums of the air above the fields that line the country side
• the morose and sonorous echoes that fill the enclosed openings in the spaces amongst the woods from the highway and the college
• the lack of birds singing in the morning,
• the calm rains whose voices drip and pat like a room of deaf children,
• the falling leaves that litter the ground like the aftermath of a great catastrophe, the death of the summer, the birth of the fall, and the piles of them that all the kids lay in for fun and stare up at the cirrus clouds high up in the atmosphere amongst the pressure differences, our breathe warm, tingly and heavy.
• the snow, signaling it's coming through the moons cold ring,

And strangely enough to accompany all this perfectly, my dream last night was another one of those sensuous dreams where i felt everything, and it was so awesome.

the hollow breath that fills the air as the fog condenses in our faces with each passing exhale, the warm bodies standing in amazement beside each other, one in a beanie and long winter clothes, one in just long winter clothes, both in blackish sweaters without hoods, openly smiling and looking in calmed awe at the hues of purple, gold, and orange in the dramatic stillness and silence of dusk, illuminating their blue eyes and their icy hands falling together in a warming closure, open and twining, the whole time, steven bryant's beautiful piece "dusk" is playing. Probably because i was listening to it on repeat all night xD

You probably can't totally envision that vision, but the cinematography is always the same, extremely amazing. It views us from the front at a 45 degree angle to their faces being slightly bright, and then it goes to their sides of their faces getting darker going back, just below the shoulder and above the top of the hair of the taller one, who is closer to the view, showing their breath becoming icy.. and then it views them from the back towards the sunset at a solid angle, going just below their bottom back and just above their heads, with their bodies turned into near shadows amongst the sunsets light direction. then finally their hands as they go together slightly brighter, and then lastly it views them from the back with the bottom at their middle back and the top just above their heads, with the sides at their shoulders, and they finally turn their heads to face each other, with their lip corners up in subtle smiles, their eyes calm and inviting, in touch with all that surrounds them.

Hmm... it seems like i'm thinking very deeply about aesthetics, with the visions of this and the music in the back ground. Come to think of it, i'll send you the link to the mp3 of dusk so you can hear it. Whether you enjoy orchestral music or not, it is a very beautiful and moving piece. Come to think of it, Steven Bryant (the composer) actually lives in raleigh.... =P learn something new every day.

But i'm very glad i write these letters. Just like right now, because i was able to write that out, i was able to come more in touch with it, and it calmed me some how. If I don't sound weird right now, i think i do xD

I feel like giving you the rundown of your entire package to expect

1st CD - Sleep Stranger - My Soul To Take

1. To No End
2. Blue Sweater
3. Creatures(s)
4. Of Wrists And Raining
5. Apogee (A Long Goodbye)
6. My Soul To Take

2nd CD - Sleep Stranger Bonus Stuff ( Covers and Unused Songs)

1. Western Side Story
2. Old Soul
3. Cold Sweat
4. Flotilla Acts I & II
5. Colorblind (Counting Crows Cover)
6. Book Of Love (The Magnetic Fields Cover)

3rd Cd - Sampsons Azaleas - EP

1. Our Fathers And Their Flags
2. Tiles
3. Altar Ego
4. ...Is Still A Wolf
5. ED

Apogee

You said goodbye to me, and it was slow and painful

I stayed at home, and grieved on my own

the phone rang as mother spoke softly, and father came in crying

I swallowed hard and nodded like i finally understood

it was meaningless, but i believe it was meaningful for the moment

the moon is as far away as it's ever going to get

My only friend when i think of you since you'd left

With your ashes in a quandary amongst your spouse and songs

And your captured visions remain as the scars

And when they threw them for the river in unfaithful wishes

the wind blew back her face and you drove your burnings

back on their garments your act as a callous laugh, but that's just you

i must admit, i found it funny

i still hear you hum in the place where you watched the red car

we used to have pull up

and celebrate the legos and peanut brittle, throwing down your jack

death is meaningless, it wasn't even meaningful in the moment

Your ghost is in a quandary, but your soul is calm at the moment

death is meaningless, the memory of you is just, for the moment

and i promise i won't ever speak or think of you again, for the moment

sorry, felt that writing that. As in I just wrote it, just now x). It's probably the only song not actually about you on MSTT come to think of it. It's about my grandfather if you didn't understand =P i had been wanting to put at least one song about him on the record. I can probably explain all of the lyrics in my message tomorrow. I probably will. =) I really think it honors all of his memory, good and bad. Really introspective for me. You probably have noticed i talk in cryptic shorthand when i'm thinking really deep about something and don't really find the capabilities of putting more descriptive words into use.

I just realized i've been writing this for over and hour. It probably will only take you 3 minutes to read it. I find it that things like a good lengthy orchestral piece takes weeks and months, sometimes years to compose, while the finished product might only last 5-15 minutes. It's really phenomenal to me, but in contrast the end does crown the work, so the more work, the larger the crown that is garnered, i suppose. I think i've wrote quite a bit, so i'll just spare you the painful reading of more of this and bid farewell.

as always, live life abundantly. "Sometimes, you have to just go for it."

-Hunter.