10 reasons why it's hard being a Christian fundamentalist

I was stepping out of the bathroom, deep in thought, thinking about how minority groups often play the "victim card" in order to achieve their ends (not a bad thing). Anyhow, I started asking myself why I never get to play the victim card. It's hard being a White (Male) Anglo-Saxon (conservative) Protestant. Here's ten reasons why:

1)Everyone's out to get you. Especially the media.
2) waking-up early on Sundays
3)Home-schooling is hard
4)You're torn in a love/hate relationship with people from other conservative religions. You can't stand their theology, but find it comforting to know you're not the only one writing petitions to the government on gay marraige.
5)Pentecostals (no toungues on the first date <--- Ryan Lawrence)
6)It's hard work holding up big John 3:16 placards at sporting events
7) crappy radio shows. I think it's a toss-up between Joyce Meyers, Fletcher Brothers, and Mrs. Gee, the ol'British lady that reads OT stories to adults.
8)Creationism, women pastors, and 'Reva-what-tions'
9)Superbowl SUNDAY
10) Guys can't just ask pretty girl out. They've gotta develop friendships, impress her, probly impress her friends, prove themselves in ministry, and finally bear their hearts in elaborate schemes to win her affection. Then she decides whether to give the poor guy a break or continue the process.


P.S. sorry if anyone felt alienated after reading this, but I think that's an important part of blogging...

Some things I'm happy to have learned

well i got a job as a caretaker at my church. actually i'm working right now.. pretty hard I might add.
Anyhow, spending the last couple days writing 'Thank You' cards has been good for me. The chance to reflect on what has been accomplished in me and through me and the team brought back good memories. So here's some of the things I'm pleased about.

• gaining a sympathy for those who are growing up in rigid social systems. They not only conform your life, but the way you think. Most of the univesity students I met were had a lot of trouble stringing together a logical argument.
  
• an appreciation of long-term work overseas, especially for families
• 'je voudre avoir du pain, ce vous plais'
• realizing grace had become a cool concept to me, and not a love-addication (read Yancey).
  
• my biggest one comes from Rev. 2:4-5, losing the love of the game. I'll blog more on this later.

Well, those are some biggies. Glad I blogged this. It's easy to drop a notch on spiritual side of things after a mission trip.

well i got a job as a caretaker at my church. actually i'm working right now.. pretty hard I might add.
Anyhow, spending the last couple days writing 'Thank You' cards has been good for me. The chance to reflect on what has been accomplished in me and through me and the team brought back good memories. So here's some of the things I'm pleased about.

• gaining a sympathy for those who are growing up in rigid social systems. They not only conform your life, but the way you think. Most of the univesity students I met were had a lot of trouble stringing together a logical argument.
  
• an appreciation of long-term work overseas, especially for families
• 'je voudre avoir du pain, ce vous plais'
• realizing I had been operating on an 'earn God's favour scale,' when I could've been operating on 'a God loves me whatever I do, so just do it scale.
• my biggest one comes from Rev. 2:4-5, losing the love of the game. I'll blog more on this later.

Well, those are some biggies. Glad I blogged this. It's easy to drop a notch on spiritual side of things after a mission trip.

back

That's me, hard at work in North Africa...
Anyhow, I'm not really planning on giving the lo-down now, but I will tell one story. Brad and I met a guy named 'Whiskers'. He pretty consistently wore the same two shirts, but everyone does over there so it didn't really phase me. What got me was his interest in philosophy. As we talked it was pretty apparent his interest wasn't just intellectual, this guy was searching for meaning. At points he said things like, "All I really want is someone to love me," or "I feel like my heart is a desert." It was incredible hearing him say this, especially in a country where Islam is supposed to provide that love and security. At one point, I shared my testimony of how I didn't really experience the love of God until I realized I was in need of forgiveness and personal change. I explained how my deepest needs are met by the only person alive who gives love without condition. Whiskers actaully got teary eyed at this point.
He didn't become a Christian, that's a big step for someone in that culture. I hope one day he will find what I've found in Christ, and I'll be praying for him as well.

Anyhow, that should hold ya'll over.

Have a good one.