The news is all a-buzz over the Iowa Caucus and the Evangelical vote with the talking heads in the pulpits decrying the necessity to pick a candidate who most closely matches scriptural dictates...
Ok, here's an easy one. Michele Bachmann is out. Why? I Timothy 2:12 says, "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." Bottom line, the Bible say to Bachmann, sit down and shut up. What about divorce? "He (Jesus) saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery." Matthew 19:8,9. Gingrich is out - he left his first wife after having an affair. He then divorced his first wife and married his mistress. Later, he had another affair with yet another woman, divorced his second wife and married his new mistress. Then of course is the problem of "religion" among the candidates. Statements from evangelical pastor Robert Jeffress , who called Mormonism, the religion of Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman, a cult, abound. "Practically all precepts of the Roman Catholic institution contradict the Bible repeatedly. The Bible is the word of God. The Roman Catholic church is the largest cult in the world and most preachers will not openly say so because it is so large." (Jesus-is-Lord.com). Well, that covers Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich as well. Rick Perry is a Methodist and Ron Paul a Baptist. They are both married to their one and only wives. I guess they pass the evangelical "smell" test for now.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Animosity Starts at Home
Quote from another Blog: "I’ve been busy working outside (finally!) and getting ready for Pagans in the Park. My, what a little hot-button topic for something that is supposed to bring people together! I’ve seen more animosity in just the past couple of weeks than I’ve seen around here for the entire previous year. It’s been a little discouraging, really. It’s this sort of infighting that has caused so much division within our community, and what’s really off-the-wall is that most of the anger and accusations have been coming from those that espouse working together and trying to repair the community! I do appreciate it when people offer thoughts and advice on how to repair our damaged community. I’d love to see everyone sit down and talk about where it’s all gotten weird and try to pull it back together, but I truly believe that must be done with an open mind and a willingness to listen to EVERYONE’S ideas, not just one person’s. And I know there are a few out there who will say I’m not willing to listen to anyone else’s ideas but my own. I don’t really think that’s true. I still like the idea of trying to create some sort of truly interfaith organization. I’m very much open to anyone else wanting to organize a gathering or a study group that would truly be available to the community as a whole."
I won't identify the author of this "blog" but I will respond. The infighting that has manifested over the last month has not originated from any organization, or even any organized group of people, despite what the author states. It has originated with less than a handful of people who refused to delegate anything to anyone simply because they have serious control issues and have exercised poor judgment. They know who they are.
As for IEFC (Interfaith Esoteric Fellowship Church), the organization was created to serve, repair, and heal the pagan community. For 6 months, several Board members came together and painstakingly wrote the Bylaws for the organization. Everyone had full input. Everyone had a vote. This includes the author of the aforementioned, "blog." The result was a governing document that everyone on the Board had a hand in creating. No opinions were suppressed, nobody's ideas were ignored. The organization is administrated by the High Priestess and High Priest. Yes, the Corporate Board does have input, but only because the church itself in still in its first year of operation. There is no elitism about IEFC, in fact, the Bylaws have provision that prevent such a situation. IEFC is open to anyone of any faith. The church follows both State and Federal laws regarding its legal status, and keeps meticulous records, both financial and organizational. To date, the church has done nothing in word or deed to create, promote, or perpetuate any division or animosity in the Springfield Pagan community or any other community. If anyone has been removed from IEFC, it has been for their own actions that violated the Bylaws, not because their input and opinion was not wanted or they held a dissenting opinion concerning the content of the Bylaws. It only makes sense that if one spends 6 months helping to create the governing document that they be held accountable to the provisions therein. Apparently there were some that felt that the Bylaws were meant for "others" in the church and not them. They are no longer with IEFC.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
I wanna, I wanna, I wanna...
"I want to organize a Pagan Pride Day. Anyone wanna help?" AF. Um... nope. Pagans in the Park is sufficiently organized, sufficiently sponsored, and sufficiently emboldened with pride in community, community service, and community healing without having to remake the event. No, the problem here isn't in the name. Pagan Pride Day is a legally reserved title for an event. Pagans in the Park is well planned, well organized, and sufficiently diverse to "handle" the Pagan pride of this community.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Accountability
"Words can weave together a broken relationship, but words can also create waves that separate two people. Words can heal a broken heart, but words can also hurt feelings. Words can transmit a wealth of information but words can also be deceiving. Words can praise a person but words can also assassinate a character. Words can bring peace and joy, but words can also set a blazing fire to harmony. Words once spoken can never be retrieved."
No nonprofit organization could survive without this law. So before anyone gets all bent out of shape over recent events, you must understand that we operate under the authority of the Bylaws that the organization has so painstakingly drafted, and the State and Federal laws that govern our organization. There is nothing "personal" in any decision that has been or will be made. We are merely operating according to the rules and regulations that the Board has defined as the code of conduct for our organization.
That being said, I hope we can put this matter to rest for the time being so that we can continue with the plans for the Midsummer celebration. If necessary, we will take up the issue again at the next Board meeting. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
It is absolutely alright to speak out our mind and express dissatisfaction or anger but we must always try to do it in awareness and without losing our temper or being carried away by emotion. Recent events did not have to end up like they did. There is a reason why people sit down together and define the parameters that the group will work within. We do this to avoid misunderstandings and to assure that we are all playing by the same rules. Yes, at times those same rules can become an inconvenience, even a hindrance to what some may think should be the course of action on an issue, but personal opinions aside we operate within a defined set of rules for a reason.
When we suddenly abandon those rules for this exception or that exception, we cease to be an organized group and become a mob, adopting a mob mentality of following situational ethics whenever it suits us. A group cannot survive in this manner. An emergency for one may not be an emergency for another. For clarity, an emergency is a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action -a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or environment. Most emergencies require urgent intervention to prevent a worsening of the situation, although in some situations, mitigation may not be possible and agencies may only be able to offer palliative assistance. For example, if a medical situation is a true emergency, the physician is required to provide all services and medication required to remove that person from imminent danger, as dictated by Federal law. There's an old proverb: "Bad planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part."
We are a not for profit organization and we operate solely on donations. We are not a business. We do not provide goods or services. We do provide credentials to qualified ministerial candidates so that they may fulfill the requirements of law in performing the duties of clergy, but we do not sell them the credentials. The ordination donations we receive go into the general fund from which the church draws to carry out its mission.
Aside from that, my duty as CEO is to ensure that the organization abides by the law regarding operation. In regards to donations, This is an issued called "enforceability of a restricted gift to a nonprofit organization"
In other words, a donor who has made a completed charitable gift to a nonprofit organization does not even have standing in a court to bring an action to enforce the terms of that gift unless the gift instrument contained an express reservation of control over the disposition of the gift, such as a right of reverter or a right to redirect. A right of reverter means that the donation would be refunded if the charity breached the agreement. In fact, people who have not even given donations but have pledged a donation, are obligated under general state law to give the funds to the charity.
Aside from that, my duty as CEO is to ensure that the organization abides by the law regarding operation. In regards to donations, This is an issued called "enforceability of a restricted gift to a nonprofit organization"
In other words, a donor who has made a completed charitable gift to a nonprofit organization does not even have standing in a court to bring an action to enforce the terms of that gift unless the gift instrument contained an express reservation of control over the disposition of the gift, such as a right of reverter or a right to redirect. A right of reverter means that the donation would be refunded if the charity breached the agreement. In fact, people who have not even given donations but have pledged a donation, are obligated under general state law to give the funds to the charity.
No nonprofit organization could survive without this law. So before anyone gets all bent out of shape over recent events, you must understand that we operate under the authority of the Bylaws that the organization has so painstakingly drafted, and the State and Federal laws that govern our organization. There is nothing "personal" in any decision that has been or will be made. We are merely operating according to the rules and regulations that the Board has defined as the code of conduct for our organization.
That being said, I hope we can put this matter to rest for the time being so that we can continue with the plans for the Midsummer celebration. If necessary, we will take up the issue again at the next Board meeting. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
The Book of Hoohah
Hypocrite. 1. A person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs. 2. A person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude, especially one whose private life, opinions, or statements belie his or her public statements.
It isn't rocket science. It isn't even a subject of advanced and complicated ethics. It's common sense. If a person identifies as a member of a particular group but doesn't follow the tenets of faith of that group, they are a fraud. People try to justify everything.
Ok, so the Book of Hoohah says that true Dwarbles eat only green slugs, they never walk on the left side of the road, and their diety, The Great Spordal, will one day transport them to a mystical planet called Hemalobob, only, The Great Spordal doesn't even know when this will be. Only the head of the HR department on Hemalobob knows this information.
So one day the Loptrolops, an offshoot of TMZ, happen to spot Prater Klueless, who identifies himself as a Dwarble, walk down the right side of the road and enter the Dashing Diner and order a plate of green slugs. Excited about seeing the Prater in public, they send in a camera crew only to hear Prater Klueless proclaiming that the Great Spordal is coming in 3 days at exactly 6pm Galactic Standard Time and that all Dwarbles need to be ready because he, Prater Klueless, has broken the secret code in the Book of Hoohah and has discovered the exact date and time the Great Spordal will transport all Dwarbles to Hemalobob.
Only there is no secret code, and the Book of Hoohah clearly states that true Dwarbles eat only green slugs, they never walk on the left side of the road, and their diety, The Great Spordal, will one day transport them to a mystical planet called Hemalobob, only, The Great Spordal doesn't even know when this will be. Only the head of the HR department on Hemalobob knows this information.
ERGO... it is obvious that Prater Klueless isn't the head of the HR department on Hemalobob. Is he really a Dwarble after all, since he doesn't follow all of the required tenets of faith as set forth in the Book of Hoohah? He simply believes that he is a good Dwarble. He dresses like a Dwarble, he speaks like a Dwarble, he eats like a Dwarble, and he even walks like a Dwarble. BUT - note the definition of a hypocrite - "especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs." Prater Klueless is nothing but an imposter - a poser, a HYPOCRITE.
The point of this story is simple - talking the talk isn't good enough. If one is going to proclaim themselves a Dwarble (or a Christian, or a Pagan, or a Wiccan) then the walk has to be there as well as the talk. Just going through the motions is not going to cut it. As Dolly Parton once said, "tinkle or get off the potty."
It isn't rocket science. It isn't even a subject of advanced and complicated ethics. It's common sense. If a person identifies as a member of a particular group but doesn't follow the tenets of faith of that group, they are a fraud. People try to justify everything.
Ok, so the Book of Hoohah says that true Dwarbles eat only green slugs, they never walk on the left side of the road, and their diety, The Great Spordal, will one day transport them to a mystical planet called Hemalobob, only, The Great Spordal doesn't even know when this will be. Only the head of the HR department on Hemalobob knows this information.
So one day the Loptrolops, an offshoot of TMZ, happen to spot Prater Klueless, who identifies himself as a Dwarble, walk down the right side of the road and enter the Dashing Diner and order a plate of green slugs. Excited about seeing the Prater in public, they send in a camera crew only to hear Prater Klueless proclaiming that the Great Spordal is coming in 3 days at exactly 6pm Galactic Standard Time and that all Dwarbles need to be ready because he, Prater Klueless, has broken the secret code in the Book of Hoohah and has discovered the exact date and time the Great Spordal will transport all Dwarbles to Hemalobob.
Only there is no secret code, and the Book of Hoohah clearly states that true Dwarbles eat only green slugs, they never walk on the left side of the road, and their diety, The Great Spordal, will one day transport them to a mystical planet called Hemalobob, only, The Great Spordal doesn't even know when this will be. Only the head of the HR department on Hemalobob knows this information.
ERGO... it is obvious that Prater Klueless isn't the head of the HR department on Hemalobob. Is he really a Dwarble after all, since he doesn't follow all of the required tenets of faith as set forth in the Book of Hoohah? He simply believes that he is a good Dwarble. He dresses like a Dwarble, he speaks like a Dwarble, he eats like a Dwarble, and he even walks like a Dwarble. BUT - note the definition of a hypocrite - "especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs." Prater Klueless is nothing but an imposter - a poser, a HYPOCRITE.
The point of this story is simple - talking the talk isn't good enough. If one is going to proclaim themselves a Dwarble (or a Christian, or a Pagan, or a Wiccan) then the walk has to be there as well as the talk. Just going through the motions is not going to cut it. As Dolly Parton once said, "tinkle or get off the potty."
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Judgments
"You can't judge a book by its cover" yet we all seem to do that with people quite frequently. I get judged often. I frequently come across as intimidating and arrogant. I'm also come across as opinionated and bullheaded. That's exactly how I want to be seen...by people who don't have the common courtesy or want to invest the time to get to know me.
I used to be a people pleaser. I spent most of my life into early adulthood worrying about what everyone thought about me. I was shy, introverted, withdrawn most of my early life. I went through many painful years with low self esteem and lack of a sense of self worth. Eventually, I grew out of all of that to see the world and its inhabitants for what we are - human beings with flaws. It was only then that I realized that if I set personal goals and achieved them that I could prove to myself that I, even my life, was worth something. I began studying - and found myself reading everything I could get my hands on about any subject that came across my path. I joined organizations that had a cause. I look inward and even studied myself for many years. Who was this person inside this physical shell?
Eventually what I discovered is that if someone really cares about you, if they are truly your friend, they will take the time to get to know you beyond that outer facade that we all place before the world as a protective barrier. If they are a fake, a fraud, they will see only what they want to see; they will not invest one minute in discovering what life experiences have made you the person you are. They will simply make a judgment, give your soul a mock trial to appease their own ego, and condemn you to the nether regions of worthlessness.
Two things that I discovered about myself over the years are that I have an enormous capacity for empathy, and an even bigger capacity for compassion. Unlike many, I don't help people to somehow make myself feel good about me. The very definition of empathy implies the sharing of emotional pain. I also don't do psychological counseling, I do empathic counseling. Opening yourself up to someone's deepest emotional pain is not fun - it's not something one would do to boost their own ego. Empathic counseling requires one to share in someone's pain, then channel it away from the suffering person and release it back into the "cosmic" stream to dissipate.
Ordination and licensing is important for 2 reasons - it gives you legal authority to do what you were called to do, and it also binds you to a higher standard for yourself. I dismiss questions by others about whether or not I should be ordained. I constantly question myself as to whether what I am doing makes me worthy of my ordination. For the world, it's a legal technicality. Personally, it's a measure of where I am in my spiritual calling and the gravity of what that calling entails.
I have very few personal friends and that has not changed in the 50 years I have been on this planet. I'm not easy to get to know, yet I am very easy to get to know. The difference is in the amount of effort and time one is willing to take to get to know me. What you see on facebook isn't me - it's a character. What you see at a Board meeting isn't me - it's a role. What you see during a workday isn't me - it's a host. We are all a muddy mix of our life experiences, our joys, our traumas, our heartaches, and our anguish. If you want to get to know someone set aside some time, one-on-one, and really get to know them. If that's not your cup of tea, well then, you get what you get. Like John always says, if you don't vote, you have no right to bitch about the elected officials. The same goes for friendships. If you won't take the time to get to know someone, you have no right to talk about them.
I used to be a people pleaser. I spent most of my life into early adulthood worrying about what everyone thought about me. I was shy, introverted, withdrawn most of my early life. I went through many painful years with low self esteem and lack of a sense of self worth. Eventually, I grew out of all of that to see the world and its inhabitants for what we are - human beings with flaws. It was only then that I realized that if I set personal goals and achieved them that I could prove to myself that I, even my life, was worth something. I began studying - and found myself reading everything I could get my hands on about any subject that came across my path. I joined organizations that had a cause. I look inward and even studied myself for many years. Who was this person inside this physical shell?
Eventually what I discovered is that if someone really cares about you, if they are truly your friend, they will take the time to get to know you beyond that outer facade that we all place before the world as a protective barrier. If they are a fake, a fraud, they will see only what they want to see; they will not invest one minute in discovering what life experiences have made you the person you are. They will simply make a judgment, give your soul a mock trial to appease their own ego, and condemn you to the nether regions of worthlessness.
Two things that I discovered about myself over the years are that I have an enormous capacity for empathy, and an even bigger capacity for compassion. Unlike many, I don't help people to somehow make myself feel good about me. The very definition of empathy implies the sharing of emotional pain. I also don't do psychological counseling, I do empathic counseling. Opening yourself up to someone's deepest emotional pain is not fun - it's not something one would do to boost their own ego. Empathic counseling requires one to share in someone's pain, then channel it away from the suffering person and release it back into the "cosmic" stream to dissipate.
Ordination and licensing is important for 2 reasons - it gives you legal authority to do what you were called to do, and it also binds you to a higher standard for yourself. I dismiss questions by others about whether or not I should be ordained. I constantly question myself as to whether what I am doing makes me worthy of my ordination. For the world, it's a legal technicality. Personally, it's a measure of where I am in my spiritual calling and the gravity of what that calling entails.
I have very few personal friends and that has not changed in the 50 years I have been on this planet. I'm not easy to get to know, yet I am very easy to get to know. The difference is in the amount of effort and time one is willing to take to get to know me. What you see on facebook isn't me - it's a character. What you see at a Board meeting isn't me - it's a role. What you see during a workday isn't me - it's a host. We are all a muddy mix of our life experiences, our joys, our traumas, our heartaches, and our anguish. If you want to get to know someone set aside some time, one-on-one, and really get to know them. If that's not your cup of tea, well then, you get what you get. Like John always says, if you don't vote, you have no right to bitch about the elected officials. The same goes for friendships. If you won't take the time to get to know someone, you have no right to talk about them.