Who does the abandoning?

“God will not abandon men, my Son. Men abandon God.”

The Prince: Jonathan by Francine Rivers, published by Oasis Audio

Image: "RISE Festival Lanterns 2014 horizontal Sky Only", copyright Heather J. Kirk

 

 Photo from RISE Lantern Festival, Jean Dry Lake Bed, Nevada, October 2014
copyright by Heather Kirk and PhotoGraphic Artistry

Heather J. Kirk Art by Heather J. Kirk www.heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com Literature by Heather J. Kirk http://www.photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books.html

Third in a Series of “The Duh-Huhs of Christmas”

Third in a Series of “The Duh-Huhs of Christmas”

I have always like the music of U2, but never thought I’d post a quote by Bono. But it fits with something I told a friend today regarding my belief that while some say all Gods are the same and all religions lead to the same place is wrong. (Stay with me here – I dare you…) Perhaps they all started out as the same, but somewhere along the way, people couldn’t believe that love, forgiveness , grace and heaven were completely free. All you had to do was admit you couldn’t be perfec t on your own and accept the gift. So various religions were created by man to figure out ways to EARN God’s love, EARN forgiveness and DESERVE Heaven. That’s why I believe Christianity is NOT the same as all the rest. It’s the only one that offers a solution to the truth…because haven’t you all figured out yet that you just can’t do it on your own. The rules are impossible to follow 100% of the time!

Sorry – I promised a Bono quote, so here we go: “You see, at the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you… And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that… Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff. The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death. That’s the point. It should keep us humbled. It’s not our own good works that get us through the gates of heaven.” (Michka Assayas, Bono in Conversation)

I found the quote thanks to the December 21 Advent Devotional from Water from Rock
http://www.waterfromrock.org/

Heather J. Kirk Art by Heather J. Kirk www.heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com Literature by Heather J. Kirk http://www.photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books.html

Second in a Series of “The Duh-Huhs of Christmas”

Second in a Series of “The Duh-Huhs of Christmas”

I have heard that the song “Twelve Days of Christmas” (one of the most annoying songs I have ever heard, rivaled only by “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall”) is secret code to remember basic tenants of Christianity or Catholicism when the practice was outlawed. But, duh huh, doesn’t using the word “Christmas” itself give it away? I mean anyone who sings Christmas songs or celebrates Christmas MUST be a Christian. OOPS! My bad.

As we can see in our present culture, that is not true at all. Jesus has been completely usurped by Santa and “Making a List;” giving to people by people until you go into debt and hope other people spend as much as you did on them or you will hold a grudge, overarches any understanding of receiving the gift of a Savior coming to live life as we do, so we can never say to God – “You have no idea how hard this life is!” At least one person I know from every culture and religion celebrates Christmas in some form. I say this merely to point out that celebrating does not mean believing (including those who call themselves Christians), not as criticism. It would be hard to avoid Christmas altogether in a society consumed with consumerism!  Though I would say people of the Jewish faith follow their own faith most closely at this time of year, maintaining their own beliefs as separate – perhaps made easier by a similar time frame for a holiday celebration. Or who knows, maybe that makes it harder…

So if I am not criticizing per se, why the duh huh? Because as a whole, the American culture is very accepting of so many things and people without criticism (which is good), or hate certain groups of people based solely on skin color or religion or place of birth (which is bad), but we tend to do so without knowledge or understanding (which is risky). Why risky? If any time of year is the right time to ponder the gift of eternal life, it is Christmas. And that gift is not in 12 golden rings, or a pretty tree, or shop ‘til you drop. It is in the birth of one very special baby. If you don’t really understand what that first “Christmas” was all about, isn’t it time you asked?

A great place to start is http://www.impactchurch.com/messages2#

Keeping Christ in Christmas – Part 1: Three Things Jesus Came to Reveal About God
Keeping Christ in Christmas – Part 3:  When God Messes Up Your Plans OR God Made You for a Purpose OR God Has a Bigger Plan for Your Life than You Have for Your Life (A bigger purpose than you can ever imagine!)
Keeping Christ in Christmas – Part 4:  

Heather J. Kirk Art by Heather J. Kirk www.heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com Literature by Heather J. Kirk http://www.photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books.html

To Do in AZ - Week of January 30 - February 5th, 2012

January 30th - February 5th, 2012 - Scottsdale, AZ


Waste Management Phoenix Open. Just in case you don't already know - it's the golf tournament formerly known as Thunderbirds. (I'm not fond of the name, but who am I to argue when a sponsor pays the big bucks for naming rights.) Lowest price tickets are $25. Might as well make it a day (if you can find the hours on their website... http://wmphoenixopen.com/tickets/general-admission/



February 3 - 5, 2012, Glendale, AZ



Glendale Chocolate Affaire - a delicious delight for the senses as the Glendale Chocolate Affaire creates a chocolate-lover’s dream! Chocolate purveyors from Arizona and around the nation gather in Glendale for this award-winning festival, which celebrates not only chocolate, but romance and the arts as well.


Location: Murphy Park, 7017 North 58th Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85301

Feb. 3-5, is Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, 5 - 10 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, Noon - 5 p.m.

http://www.glendaleaz.com/events/chocolateaffaire.cfm



February 5, 21012 @ 1pm - Phoenix Art Museum:

The Gospel According to St. Matthew (Film)


Italian filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini wrote and directed this documentary-style look at the life of Jesus Christ. Presenting Christ as a revolutionary figure, Pasolini, himself an atheist, created one of the most compelling and by many standards accurate depictions of the Christian savior's final years, one that is particularly interesting given the director's separation from the belief. Runtime: 137 min. Tickets to this film are $5, FREE for Museum members.


This film is being run in conjunction with Sacred Word and Image: Five World Religions on view January 4th - March 25th.

http://www.phxart.org/events/index.php



Events Chosen by Heather J. Kirk

"We..." book free promotions December 20, 2011 only

Free promotion day for Kindle book "We...a spirit seeking harmony for a world that's out of sync" by Heather J. Kirk. Makes a great Christmas gift. Can, of course, be purchased on other days.
http://www.amazon.com/We-spirits-seeking-harmony-ebook/dp/B005783Y44/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1

Heather J. Kirk, Photographer, Author, Graphic Designer