So I promised myself I would take the weekend off and relax, celebrate Christmas, and recharge. But my recharging in the park on Christmas morning inspired me to write the post, Jesus is Coming - And He Looks Pissed! It went viral and created a firestorm of comments, emails and Twitter postings. Hard to believe so many people would argue against reciprocity, peace and love!
But of course I know the real reason…
As I said in my book Why You're DUMB, SICK, & BROKE…and How to Get SMART, HEALTHY & RICH, many organized religions are run as cosmic frequent flyer programs. People are led to believe they can collect points here to cash in for the free trip to salvation afterward. They see God as a cosmic Santa Clause, who is making a list and checking twice, to find out who’s been naughty or nice.
As a result, some of these people really make their comments just to show Santa they’re being good. They are not really responding to me, they’re just trying to ensure they’ve got enough miles in their account. I get that, and if that qualifies them for Platinum status, upgrades, or award trips to heaven, good for them.
Unfortunately going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. You become a Christian with Christ-like thoughts and actions.
Deeds not talk.
And that was the real point of the blog. How we treat the others around us, particularly the ones that are different than us.
Contrary to what some thought, I wasn’t attacking Christianity. (I am a Christian after all.) The same is true with all the religions we discussed. I was, however, opening the discussion on the issue of people of all faiths on being congruent to your beliefs, and if those beliefs really serve you. The whole point of the post was to get people to do some critical thinking about what the real message of the season should be.
So as you take down the lights, put away the ornaments, and scurry to the after Christmas sales, remember this:
The real present you got for Christmas (Chanukah, Kwanzaa, or other holiday) was TODAY. What are you going to do with it?
-RG
Prosperity TV
I will do with today what I do with every day before and every day that will come after. I will be thankful for the abilities I have, be excited about what I am going to accomplish and learn and face any challenge with out loosing control. My father died young, so every day I remember he was always waiting "until he retired" to enjoy himself. I admired his work ethic and his strength but I feel he missed out on a lot by not enjoying his life more. I work in a field I love and I am not "waiting until I retire" to live my life.
Good for you!
-RG
Love the way you put it! All I have is today and today is enough to live well and to live joyfully!
Mark 12:28-31 (New International Version, ©2010)
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
I think
'Love your neighbour as yourself' was more of a statement rather than a command or suggestion.
As in 'You do love your neighbour as yourself!'
When we love ourselves then we show it in how we treat others. The people who have anger and hatred towards themselves treat others in that manner also.
The people who have love for themselves will have love for their neighbours. The people who do not have love for themselves will not have any for their neighbours.
Very Insightful ! I see now how people treat others may be related to how they feel or think about themselves.
What am I going to do with today?
"I want to LIVE, not merely survive
and I wont give up this dream of life that keeps me alive
I gotta be me, I gotta be me
the dream that I see makes me what I am
that faraway prize, a world of success
is waiting for me if I heed the call
I won't settle down, won't settle for less
as long as there's a chance that I CAN HAVE IT ALL."
~From the song "I gotta be me" by Sammy Davis Jr.
What will I do with today?.......I will rejoice and be glad in it!!! Keep up the good work and have a Happy New Year Gage!!!
ps. I hope you get alot of FFMs for that last post:)
LOL, I was Platinum last year on Delta, American, Continental and United. I haven't got that other statement yet!
-RG
I thought you are an agnostic.
I am a Christian, but continually question and do critical thinking about my beliefs to determine if they serve me.
-RG
Randy,
It seems strange that you would use the label as Christian for yourself. I thought you would have been someone who just uses the principles from all the spiritual faiths and science.
I guess that means that you believe the bible stories of Jesus being the saviour and the way to heaven is through him?
Otherwise I don't see how with your views that you would take the label of Christian.
Personally I don't like to put anyone on a pedestal (living or dead) thinking that I need them to be saved.
We are all just people from the same source learning and applying. I like to learn from all those who came before us. But I think the Jesus thing was taken way out of proportion in a time of uneducated lunatics. Look how many eyewitnesses have seen Elvis risen from the dead.
I bet Jesus as with everyone else of his day would have argued that the world was flat. Also with a lot of other nonsense. It is easy to make someone belief in something when the penalty for not believing it is that they will be killed for blasphemy. Do this with enough people for enough generations without other education and you get Christianity and a lot of loonies believing in the tooth fairy.
Some good principles from Christianity but a lot of Rubbish also. Jesus was just a guy with some great teachings and the rest was just mob mentality out for a good witch hunt.
Why can't Randy call himself a Christian---I consider myself a Christian, even though I do not believe in "religion" or most of the bible "stories"....You are associating the word Christian with a religious connotation....I consider myself Christian because I do believe in the words of Jesus Christ, and that we are here to love one another---not as the "formal religions" of the world interpret his words--that the only way to get to heaven is literally through him, , but the real words he spoke with no middleman involved....the term Christian to me denotes a way of living life with consideration and love towards all, not necessarily a belief in "the bible"......
That makes no sense! Why not just be a loving person who uses teachings from many. I like a lot of what Randy talks about but I won't go around calling myself a Randyian just because I like his principles.
How can you not think of Religion when hearing the about Christianity. It just happens to be the name of the biggest Religion on the planet. If you don't believe in the stories from the bible then it makes absolutely no sense to be labeled a Christian.
By the way the words of Jesus that you like come from the people who wrote the Bible then were passed through several languages. They didn't actually come from Jesus. I don't trust third party stories of a conversation that happened a week ago never mind from thousands of years ago.
Yes. Randy is fundamentalist agnostic. That is the FB profile info on his religious views
I absolutely agree with your thought. Christian is not a score card. I don't believe that god is keeping score as to how many times do you go to church. Just this Sunday someone was making the point that you should not do social things like going to parties or joining a fraternity but be in church. Some of these people have no tolerance for people who think differently than they do. I agree. That's not what Christian is all about.
I will devote my full attention to 11:08 AM, EST.
All I have is the moment. I make the most of it.
RB
Randy,
Since the northeast is under 20 inches of snow today, I'm sitting here reading a book that was handed to me through synchronicity.
It's a book originally published in 1964 written by Lowell Fillmore titled The Prayer Way to Health, Wealth, and Happiness.
The book touches on the same principles your discussing right now which is the Christ consciousness I think that is what many may be missing, I happen to agree that we don't have to sit in church to have a Christ consciousness!
Happy New Year
With Gratitude
Olga
I say YES to life to whatever the day or days may bring whether I interpret it as good or bad is irelevant. I can`t think of anything better to do than say YES to life and mean it.
After I am enjoying a day with family and two hours in my home office.
Randy i agree, being a christian is about walking the walk, not talking the walk. Any one can go to church and play the motions, but are they applying the principles to their life, are they improving to adapt the character of Christ in their lives to serve others and bear fruit in their lives. Today I'm going to channel my focus on what I'm grateful for and how i can serve my wife.
I will live the day with passion,love,and a big smile.Thank you God for everything i have and thank you so much,for everything i dont have.
Dear Randy,
Thank you for saying what's in my mind and heart... in a way that ONLY YOU can say it.
I know that an "agreement" comment doesn't have anywhere near the charge or appeal that a controversial comment does, but I want to give you a thumbs up anyway... your message is refreshing to me!
Kudos and cheers to the gift of TODAY!
Debbie
"TODAY. What are you going to do with it?"
Just as it's important to realize that being busy is not the same as being productive, it's also important to recognize that being productive is not the same as living.
So Randy, while I'm very glad you were inspired to write that infamous post (generating a great exchange of ideas), I think your recharging in the park on Christmas morning was just as important (or maybe more important) as attending to your blog.
Maybe today you'll go back and find that blade of grass again?
jim
I really liked your first paragraph - lots of wisdom. On a previous post someone said "how you do anything is how you do everything" - another bit of wisdom too.
Thanks, Edward! With my engineer's mindset, "being productive is not the same as living" is one of life's lessons that _I'm_ trying very hard to learn.
As with many things, it's a lot easier to suggest it to someone else than to do it myself. But I'm working at it! (Or maybe I should say I'm "living" at it.)
jim
RG,
I have had a virus for a month. I was in the hospital for a week and and week follow up with antibiotics. Today I went to an acupuncturist and I am feeling better in my legs for the first time. My friends told me about this Dr. on Christmas Eve and my minister told me about him a year ago. Today I chose to listen.
Thanks.
Jim
Well, there is power in words too.
What are you projecting out today?
We all came here for this experience.
Unique in all creation.
No need to fear anything or anyone.
All is a reflection of YOU.
When New Year’s comes, we will all be entering an “everything frequency”.
That means everything can and will happen.
All possibilities, as well as all opportunities, will be presented.
Choose wisely.
I find you always put an unusual spin in the topic, which I don't always understand, but I find your comments interesting. What do you mean, about an everything frequency, in particular that we will be entering it in the New Year. In what way will everything be possible etc. in the new year (as compared with the past? And on what do you base this?
There is great power in numbers in more than one way. Too much for a blog reply! 🙂
And words, which carry a frequency in themselves, are also archetypes that can be translated into numbers as well, just like symbols.
2009 Universal Year basically means "double new beginnings".
2010 Universal Year basically means "accessing the joy of creation".
2010 adds up to 3 which symbolizes happiness, perfection and positive self expression. The flipside of the 3 is that people may express themselves negatively through criticism and self-doubt.
11, 22, 33, 44, 55 and so on are "master numbers".
11 basically meaning "new cycle".
2011 adds up to 4 which can be broken down to 22 meaning "transition".
So, 2011 is extremely powerful.
Take advantage of it!
You know when you know by experience.
We are not ruled by numbers, but we can use them to our advantage, and each year also carry your own "personal year" based on when you were born.
I'm sure all of this was in the original bible as well, but you have to ask the Pope why they're hiding all those books in the Vatican. I think I know why.
Check out expansions.com and taniagabrielle.com.
I love the numbers, the ones that keep showing to me are 222 and 555, I associate them to my Mom and my Dad, respectively and also am aware that 222 reminds me to pay attention to my thoughts, they become things, and 555 is telling me that my life is on a roll at the moment and to be open to all that is coming.
Thanks for the reminders.
Randy that part about "unfortunately going to church doesn't make you a christian is so true." I shared it on my Facebook Page. You rock! GOD is not impressed with the church as much as he is with your thoughts, actions, and whether you really put your faith in him. He really just wants a relationship and as Jesus said, "Come as you are." Peace~
By the way, started buying organic produce of all kinds, delivered to my door, today.
Drinking steam distilled water.
Heading off to the gym followed by a sea salt bath.
Constantly doing Hyperspace mental work. And it is work. Not talk and not deeds either.
I am sure that I will do with today, what I always I've done up to now. All days which I've lived before today, and all days I will live from now, I will search to live of the best form possible, and within the honesty that
God gave me, and I was taught by my parents. But I will search also, to improve everything I've done of the way not exact. I've to learn much more, with this modern world. I wanna grow in my life, of the way calm and without hurry. Always with the feet on the ground.
I think so. It will be the better to me...
124 comments and I missed it!?!?!?!
Whoa!
An Objectivist Christian... what'll they think of next!
Yeah, where you been lately? You need to pull your weight around here!
-RG
I am going to enjoy today like I did yesterday. It's my Mum's birthday and I'm heading around later to deliver the cake my sister, niece and I baked here yesterday. I also thoroughly enjoyed my 5th sleep-in in a row! Ah, summer holidays, so nice, even when I've not got much on.
Some of the comments about cosmic frequent flyer points has been interesting. I noticed this issue at Christmas with my family. My Mum was raised as a Christian, but she doesn't actively participate in the faith nor does she read the bible. As my two year old niece received a really huge present, my Mum started repeating to her half jokingly over and over again: "I don't think that that present is really for you", basically insinuating that she isn't big enough/doesn't deserve a present like that. Every time she said it I said "Mum, stop". She didn't pay any attention to me at all. It made me think back to Christmas when I was a kid and I realised in that moment that she said exactly those same words to me.
Very touching!!
And my Mum said that if I do not behave me the right way Santa Clause will see it through his binoculars and will not give me a good present!! The same thing:)
You know, you were right about everything you said in the "Jesus-Pissed" post and this one. However, sometimes it is just about how you say a thing. I think your a thinker, very logical and just say it how you think it. But, honestly it really makes me, a feeling oriented person a little twitchy.
It is hard for people with fundamentalist beliefs to hear what you are saying. Try a little empathy next time. Fundamentalists are people too, no matter how their thinking may be scewed(good lord, I don't know how to spell that and I don't want to look it up).
Now, a riddle. I am a Libertarian. Can you guess how?
The proper spelling is S-C-R-E-W-E-D
Are you being funny Edward?:) I giggled I hope that's okay.
Yes, I am being funny. I knew skewed was the word you were after.
It is actually, skewed. But, I don't know maybe screwed is better.
Each to his own. I respect all views. For me - there is only one God, whatever name you may call Him. All humanity is one family and children of that one God. All revealed Religions are from that one God, progressively revealed over centuries, the Teachings being suited for the period of Revelation. We are both, spiritual and material. For material truths we have the scientists but for spiritual truths we have the Messengers of God who appear age after age to guide and nourish our souls for a spiritual life hereafter.
Today I relax. That's it. No business, no running to sales - I don't need anything. I will read a few of my favourite magazines if I so desire. I will just go about my day as it unfolds. I did what I pleased. I am not even going to think about anything.
Good for you, Edward!
RG,
I absolutely agree with you on "going to church doesn’t make you a christian," while it won't hurt going to church either. Personally, I haven't gone to church for a long time, and yet I don't feel guilty about it. This doesn't mean that I don't have faith or love for God. As someone mentioned also, God is not impressed with people who go to church or with the church as much as he is with our thoughts and behaviors/deeds. And because you think your action and thoughts are right and thinking they being in alignment with what you think he wants you to have doesn't mean that He is impressed with you and loves you more than those whose thoughts are naturally evil either. He hates sins but loves sinners coz He created us all. Without God, no one and nothing exist. God really just wants a relationship with us. Thus, trying so hard to be good just for the sake of being good, or coz of the hunger (wish) for people/world to recognize it, or in hope to accumulate good points to cash in won't get anyone a free trip to salvation, I don't believe.
I also agree with you, RG, on "You become a Christian with Christ-like thoughts and actions. Deeds not talk." Our fancy talk means nothing unless it is revealed in our deeds /actions (and love in our heart) on our day-to-day basis. How we deal with others around us - especially those that are different from us - were the main points of the blog, and you weren't attacking Christianity. : ) (You're a Christian after all, like you said.)
RG asks: "The real present you got for Christmas (Chanukah, Kwanzaa, or other holiday) was TODAY. What are you going to do with it?"
I'm learning that each moment of our every day is a gift from God, and that I'm learning to live TODAY is my very last day and enjoy things like watching people who pass by whom I would never see again, and I even see those leaves that are still on branches regardless of this cold weather have also experienced to be alive like all of us and to be part of our lives here on earth.
-Saach .^_^//*
Randy, you are right.
Sometimes it is really hard to think independently. We evaluate every our thought with the values of the person who is an authority for us. We just think "what would that person say if he saw this"?
Is it right or not?
I guess it is right to think that way if that person is living a prosperous life in the sphere which is concerned. We have to ask ourselves not just what that person might say but WHY whould that person say that. What makes him think that way. Is it the right way of thinking?
And then ask ourselves how we should react on that situation to reach our goals in life
And this process is called critical thinking.
Amen!
-RG
There is no label that will ever define us more than how we define ourselves... as a leader, a lover and a friend.
No matter how anyone views any religion, it is up to that individual to carry and share the sacred gifts we are each given till the end... besides, heaven and hell are both local, we have the choice of where and what we want to be.
I believe people simply go to their place of worship to keep this memory alive... and that is perfectly okay.
Religions no doubt separate us... labels are more prone to limited behaviors and create unnecessary differences.
We all have a commonality... after all, we're all made of stardust, right?
I am still waiting for you to figure out the riddle. I really am a Libertarian. This is a thinking excercise. I will give you one hint. No, on second thought I won't. Hurry up.
How can anyone guess you're a Libertarian? You won't even give a hint away. Is that it? You're keeping the hint for yourself?
Alright I will give a hint: location, location, location
We very often forget that Jesus was not a Christian...
Fired up and focused man!!!
Good on you!
How about where are you here and now, in any "here and now" this is where all our power is. This is where you find yourself
Live it to the full, brother. As you said, today is a gift ... that's why it's called "the present". And you don't even need to keep the gift receipt ...
Best,
Scott
Awesome post. I was just meditating on who I could serve today or how can I make a difference. I grew up thinking I would go straight to hell if I did not tithe every time I got paid. I thought God would just cut me off so I lived several years trying to do everything right in the event he would eventually let me in heaven which was so stupid and funny at the same time. I wasted so much time with that type of FEAR. Actions speak louder than words. I enjoyed this post because its the truth and people dont like the truth. lol