RELIGION?

Church, religion, who cares?

Serving in the United States Air Force after high school started my journey. The GI Bill was my reason for enlisting my junior year of high school. The goal was funds for my college education. My uncle was a body shop employee for Ford in Downey California. My uncle convinced my dad about my enlistment. Family, it truly takes a village to raise children, as the oldest of three siblings. My father took me to all the recruiters meeting until I graduated from high school and got my orders to leave 7/26/1987 to be discharged in four years 1991.

San Antonio Texas was where I spend the summer of 1987. Going to church with fellow airmen on Sundays was unique memory for me since I never attended church by my self. My mother was baptized at the neighborhood Baptist Church, but I never attended to avoid baby sitting my three younger sisters. During boot camp, there were three options. Option number one was to stay behind and study for our final test which was given at the end of our six weeks. The Second option was to march in pairs attending a protestant or Catholic service. Some times I would join someone and march to a chapel for a church service. Other times I attended a mass with a Catholic believer. Beats shinning shoes or studying for a test. At the time I didn’t care. No preference was on my issued dog tags. Religion? I didn’t have one at the time. Who cares?

Are there people out there who use to think like me? Do you have a religion? What do you believe? Santa Claus, angels, the devil, heaven, or hell? Life after death? What will your grave stone read? Rest in Peace(RIP)?

Thoughts about religion go answered once I left the military and returned to Southern California. Once I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior I didn’t understand religion. Oh ya! It’s not about having a religion. It’s about having a relationship with the Creator of the Universe. Adam, and Eve getting kicked out of the Garden isn’t a story. It’s how it how it all began. Yes people! Let there be light in the book of Genesis is real. The God who created everyone in the world sent His Son, Jesus! Jesus is real. He died on the Cross to bridge the gap between humanity and God.

Hey! Hollywood has made movies about Jesus, the Son of God. Christmas movies, Christmas cartoons. Easter movies such as The Passion, Benhur, The Ten Commandments. Maybe your familiar with the actor Mel Gibson? Gibson directed the movie The Passion who also started in thrillers such as Lethal Weapon sequels. I grew up watching the Ten Commandments with movie actor Charlton Heston who also started in Ben-Hur which had a short scene of a Roman soldier and Jesus healing people, watch it! Think about it why Jesus? God uses Hollywood to get people attention. You can’t avoid the Gospel. Gideon bibles in hotels. Do research if! Don’t take my word. Attend a church service this coming Sunday.

2 Replies to “RELIGION?”

  1. My favorite movie I watch for Easter is Jesus of Nazareth. The series was made in 1977 but I grew up watching it watching channel 7 (and I think it would be shown on channel 13 (KCOP) or channel 5 (KTLA]). It’s a compelling series – it begins with the birth of Jesus all the way to his death and resurrection. It’s one of my favorite the shows to watch, and feel at peace once I’m done watching it. If you haven’t seen it, you may be able to find it on a streaming service. I think it tells the story of Jesus as best as possible, especially for a Hollywood movie. I also grew up watching the Ten Commandants too. As these are great movies to watch, still, nothing beats a good homily at Sunday Mass. As Easter approaches, I think of the days of Easter egg hunting and how my parents would do what they could for us to have a good Easter. But my mom would always remind us that as we wait for the resurrection, it was a time to think of what Jesus went through in the desert and no matter how hard things are, He is there will be there when He rise, and beyond.

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