I received an email that said to score 100 points (or to be a real Christians) you must not be ashamed to send this message out to at least 10 people. Instead I am creating a blog site.
FIRST:
I am certainly not ashamed. I appreciate what the message says. That we need to stand-up and not be ashamed to say that we are Christians. We do need to stand-up for our rights and the rights of others. The Atheists, my son-in-law included, thinks that the first amendment was the Freedom From Religion. Not the Freedom to believe and to worship as you individually choose. They are passionately confused. I care deeply for my son-in-law but I disagree with him. Originally it mean that the King or the federal government could not dictate what church (Christian) you attended or persecute you for it. The idea was penned by Jefferson, who wrote: "...I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church & State." It was to protect the free exercise of a religion from the government. It was not intended to eliminate religion from government. I feel religion is an individual choice. Personally so long as that faith is not intent on the destruction of the government, of the people or of other religions then they should have free exercise. If you choose not to believe then don't. I can't make you. I can pray for you, in private, all day, unceasingly. But if I chose I could also be free to pray for you and for my government in public.
SECOND:
I don't like to send things out that require you to send it to a certain number of people or else you are a bad person. They infer that you are not what you say you are unless you do as they say. So, I would usually not send this out. I don't like the message that unless you believe just as I do then you are not a Christian. That's not Christian in my way of thinking. I can not judge people that way, I try not to.
THIRD:
But I like these paintings. I will try to attach one of them. They may not all be good art but they cause me to think. My ability to create is God given. I want to give back. I need to use my skills, to share what I can do. Do "Christian" paintings require that they are representational and depict Jesus or his followers. What is the nature of art? So much of what has gone on, in art and our society, rejects Christianity. They want to shock you. To shock is art. To be perverse, to be negative, to promote sin is to shock. I don't want to do that. I want to do the opposite. My daughter, Libby and I talked about this recently. She is a Graphic Arts major in college and soon off to explore art in Europe. We want to promote what is beautiful and what is good. I think you can do this in any form of art, including architecture. I would like to think I could score a 100 by creating beauty and sharing it with you. I hope you find this a beautiful painting. Oil on canvas, 32" x 40", done in 2002, it is a "portrait of a Koi Pond" in a private collection in Woodinville, Washington. (Note: I tried to place it below this text but could not figure that out so it is at the top and I will not be able to show the images from the email)
The text of the original email:
Hope you score 100 The sentence at the end of this page tells You how to score 100. Enjoy the pictures As you scroll down. Paintings of Christ...
I'm not ashamed. He is the only one that can save this Country and they want him removed from the government. Our great nation will not stand if we delete HIM from all Aspects of our government as the atheists want.
Jesus Test - This is an easy test, you score 100 or zero. It's your Choice. If you aren't ashamed to do this, please follow The directions. Jesus said, if you are ashamed of me, I Will be ashamed of you before my Father. This is the Simplest test. If you Love God, and are not ashamed of All the marvelous things he has done for you.. Send this to ten people.
FIRST:
I am certainly not ashamed. I appreciate what the message says. That we need to stand-up and not be ashamed to say that we are Christians. We do need to stand-up for our rights and the rights of others. The Atheists, my son-in-law included, thinks that the first amendment was the Freedom From Religion. Not the Freedom to believe and to worship as you individually choose. They are passionately confused. I care deeply for my son-in-law but I disagree with him. Originally it mean that the King or the federal government could not dictate what church (Christian) you attended or persecute you for it. The idea was penned by Jefferson, who wrote: "...I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church & State." It was to protect the free exercise of a religion from the government. It was not intended to eliminate religion from government. I feel religion is an individual choice. Personally so long as that faith is not intent on the destruction of the government, of the people or of other religions then they should have free exercise. If you choose not to believe then don't. I can't make you. I can pray for you, in private, all day, unceasingly. But if I chose I could also be free to pray for you and for my government in public.
SECOND:
I don't like to send things out that require you to send it to a certain number of people or else you are a bad person. They infer that you are not what you say you are unless you do as they say. So, I would usually not send this out. I don't like the message that unless you believe just as I do then you are not a Christian. That's not Christian in my way of thinking. I can not judge people that way, I try not to.
THIRD:
But I like these paintings. I will try to attach one of them. They may not all be good art but they cause me to think. My ability to create is God given. I want to give back. I need to use my skills, to share what I can do. Do "Christian" paintings require that they are representational and depict Jesus or his followers. What is the nature of art? So much of what has gone on, in art and our society, rejects Christianity. They want to shock you. To shock is art. To be perverse, to be negative, to promote sin is to shock. I don't want to do that. I want to do the opposite. My daughter, Libby and I talked about this recently. She is a Graphic Arts major in college and soon off to explore art in Europe. We want to promote what is beautiful and what is good. I think you can do this in any form of art, including architecture. I would like to think I could score a 100 by creating beauty and sharing it with you. I hope you find this a beautiful painting. Oil on canvas, 32" x 40", done in 2002, it is a "portrait of a Koi Pond" in a private collection in Woodinville, Washington. (Note: I tried to place it below this text but could not figure that out so it is at the top and I will not be able to show the images from the email)
The text of the original email:
Hope you score 100 The sentence at the end of this page tells You how to score 100. Enjoy the pictures As you scroll down. Paintings of Christ...
I'm not ashamed. He is the only one that can save this Country and they want him removed from the government. Our great nation will not stand if we delete HIM from all Aspects of our government as the atheists want.
Jesus Test - This is an easy test, you score 100 or zero. It's your Choice. If you aren't ashamed to do this, please follow The directions. Jesus said, if you are ashamed of me, I Will be ashamed of you before my Father. This is the Simplest test. If you Love God, and are not ashamed of All the marvelous things he has done for you.. Send this to ten people.
No comments:
Post a Comment