by Ken Brown
Springfield, MO
Foreword: The Ozark Uncle is paradoxical in many ways but particularly regarding religion -- he is a non-Christian who loves Jesus, (h)is teachings and (h)is principles. The Ozark Uncle tries not to be judgmental but doesn't always succeed. If readers find places in this post where I seem to judge or not be Christ-like, please call me out on them. The biggest concern is that the Ozark Uncle, as a non-Christian, is passing judgment on people who call themselves Christians. I'll accept all criticisms as graciously as possible.
Rights, Rights, Rights--Rights to Say the "N" Word and Rights to Build a Muslim YMCA.
(Saturday night--Aug. 19) Well, on this blog, the Ozark Uncle posted some thoughts about Dr. Laura and her use of the "N" word on air during her Aug. 10 show. The posting received responses of both agreement and disagreement with her actions.
(Sunday morning--Aug. 20), the Ozark Uncle used Facebook to shared NPR's report on religious freedom versus freedom of speech. The religious freedom issue relates to the so-called Ground-Zero Mosque and whether American Muslim rights are being imperiled. Again voices appeared on my Facebook account on both sides of this dilemma.
(Saturday night--Aug. 19) Well, on this blog, the Ozark Uncle posted some thoughts about Dr. Laura and her use of the "N" word on air during her Aug. 10 show. The posting received responses of both agreement and disagreement with her actions.
(Sunday morning--Aug. 20), the Ozark Uncle used Facebook to shared NPR's report on religious freedom versus freedom of speech. The religious freedom issue relates to the so-called Ground-Zero Mosque and whether American Muslim rights are being imperiled. Again voices appeared on my Facebook account on both sides of this dilemma.
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| Sen. Mitch McConnell (R) Ky. |
On this particular Sunday morning, the Ozark Uncle was actually dreading it because he knew the headliner guest, Mitch McConnell, would say absolutely nothing about Republican ideas for when they regain power. [Note on photo at left: Ok, you caught me being biased. The internet provided over 100 images of the Senator, and I chose the one that seemed the least flattering. Also it was the only one with his mouth closed].
P.S. Joy ended up watching the show, and she confirmed that he again said nothing worthwhile. But she failed to mention one thing--when he was asked about whether Obama was a Christian and not a Muslim, Sen. McConnell said he had to take the President at his word that he's a Christian. Some media outlets took that to mean McConnell wanted to keep the question in play. What do you think would happen if Gregory's question was "Senator, do you love Jesus and do you think the President loves Jesus?" Besides Gregory being fired for using the "J" word, what would the Senator say?
At the end of this blog posting, the Ozark Uncle will talk about Jesus being the important focus for everyone, and the term "Christian" is a rather hollow sounding word. People sling around the words "I'm a Christian" when many of them don't have the foggiest idea of what Jesus should be in their everyday lives [oops, judgment--my bad]. The Ozark Uncle does try to focus on Jesus even though he's a non-Christian. Regular readers already know this but one can get a glimpse of the Ozark Uncle's past religious experiences on his other blog site "The Brown Perspective" particularly in his "Baptists Turns Green" posting).
Today's Thoughts for the Ozark Uncle
The Ozark Uncle has only a few Facebook friends who are not Caucasian. But he wants more diversity in his pool of Facebook friends and his personal friends here in Springfield. If they wish, black friends can tell me what the "N" word means within their community. The Ozark Uncle perceives that the use of the word is controversial within the black community and it's their issue to address.
At the moment, the Ozark Uncle's perception on disparaging word usage is like this--he has some close friends who play golf together. Listen to the group on the golf course and you might hear something like this:
"Dumb Ass, shut up and hit the damn golf ball."
"Listen Turd Bird, go over behind that tree and play with yourself--I'll hit the ball when I'm good and ready."
Now, let someone from the trailing group of golfers call one of us "Dumb Ass", and we've got ourselves a situation. The same is for the "N" Word.
And that's where I'm leaving this "N" word business. In summary, it's more that the word, it's (a) the context, (b) who is saying it and (c) how it is being said. In America, everyone has the right to say any word or groups of words they wish, but they don't necessarily have an automatic safe harbor after they've said those words. We are all responsibility for our actions (including our words).
The Ozark Uncle has only a few Facebook friends who are not Caucasian. But he wants more diversity in his pool of Facebook friends and his personal friends here in Springfield. If they wish, black friends can tell me what the "N" word means within their community. The Ozark Uncle perceives that the use of the word is controversial within the black community and it's their issue to address.
At the moment, the Ozark Uncle's perception on disparaging word usage is like this--he has some close friends who play golf together. Listen to the group on the golf course and you might hear something like this:
"Dumb Ass, shut up and hit the damn golf ball."
"Listen Turd Bird, go over behind that tree and play with yourself--I'll hit the ball when I'm good and ready."
Now, let someone from the trailing group of golfers call one of us "Dumb Ass", and we've got ourselves a situation. The same is for the "N" Word.
And that's where I'm leaving this "N" word business. In summary, it's more that the word, it's (a) the context, (b) who is saying it and (c) how it is being said. In America, everyone has the right to say any word or groups of words they wish, but they don't necessarily have an automatic safe harbor after they've said those words. We are all responsibility for our actions (including our words).
The "J" Word--Today's Thoughts for Tomorrow's Generation
Finally something good out of Sunday, August 21 (besides a first grader's birthday party that the Ozark Uncle attended).
"Sister" Terry Hampton's regular posting on her More To Live For blog outlined her perception of a disconnect between American Christianity and the ways of Jesus. My interpretation of her main point is that American Christianity focuses on words in the Bible, not on Jesus and his Way.
She cites the Rev. Oswald Chambers and his book of daily devotions called My Utmost For His Highest. [Note: Chambers' wife pulled together the book of his writings after his death]. The 19th Century Scottish minister taught that a complete knowledge of the words in the Bible was useless if one did not have a personal relationship with Jesus.
My good friend, Fern, keeps sending me quotes from Thomas Jefferson. That reminded me of the Jefferson Bible in which Jefferson extracted all the teachings of Jesus and placed them in a single volume. In essence, he created the first "red-letter edition." Those are the passages that get the Ozark Uncle's attention more than any.
A few years ago, the WWJD bracelets seemed to be everywhere. The Ozark Uncle even adopted the personal motto, "What Would Jesus Do?" Today's thought for tomorrow's generation is to consider Jesus as a pattern for your life and address daily problems with "WWJD." Once you're comfortable with and accept his principles and his ethics, start using the "J" Word. It's not a word you hear every day.
News channel (Fox, CNN, MSNBC) watchers, listen and count the number of times the "J" word is used. An interviewee might use it in an occasional personal testimony but it probably won't hear a moderator us it. You'll hear words like God, Christian, Evil, Devil, and Divine but not Jesus. Is it a politically incorrect word?
"Sister" Terry Hampton's regular posting on her More To Live For blog outlined her perception of a disconnect between American Christianity and the ways of Jesus. My interpretation of her main point is that American Christianity focuses on words in the Bible, not on Jesus and his Way.
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| Rev. Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) |
My good friend, Fern, keeps sending me quotes from Thomas Jefferson. That reminded me of the Jefferson Bible in which Jefferson extracted all the teachings of Jesus and placed them in a single volume. In essence, he created the first "red-letter edition." Those are the passages that get the Ozark Uncle's attention more than any.
A few years ago, the WWJD bracelets seemed to be everywhere. The Ozark Uncle even adopted the personal motto, "What Would Jesus Do?" Today's thought for tomorrow's generation is to consider Jesus as a pattern for your life and address daily problems with "WWJD." Once you're comfortable with and accept his principles and his ethics, start using the "J" Word. It's not a word you hear every day.
News channel (Fox, CNN, MSNBC) watchers, listen and count the number of times the "J" word is used. An interviewee might use it in an occasional personal testimony but it probably won't hear a moderator us it. You'll hear words like God, Christian, Evil, Devil, and Divine but not Jesus. Is it a politically incorrect word?
Sally, that's great! So, are you saying most people who call themselves Christians are focused on Jesus. I'd like to be wrong on that count.
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